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Concept
Soham rail disaster
Summary
The Soham rail disaster occurred on 2 June 1944, during the Second World War, when a fire developed on the leading wagon of a heavy ammunition train. The wagon contained a quantity of high explosive bombs. The train crew had detached the wagon from the rest of the train and were drawing it away when the cargo exploded. The fireman of the train and the signalman at Soham signalbox were killed and several other people injured. The driver, Benjamin Gimbert, and fireman, James Nightall, were both awarded the George Cross for preventing further damage which would have occurred if the rest of the train had exploded.
At 12.15 a.m. on 2 June 1944 a heavy freight train left Whitemoor marshalling yard, near (in the Isle of Ely, now in Cambridgeshire). The train comprised WD Austerity 2-8-0 engine No. 7337, 51 wagons and brake van heading for Ipswich. The cargo on the train consisted of 44 wagons containing a total weight of 400 tons of bombs and a further 7 wagons containing other components e.g. tail fins. On board the engine were 41-year-old driver Benjamin Gimbert and 22-year-old fireman James Nightall; the train guard was Herbert Clarke.
About 90 minutes later the train was approaching Soham station when the driver looked back to see flames coming from the leading wagon which contained 44 general purpose bombs – a total weight of . Gimbert brought the train to a stop and, rather than running for safety, instructed Nightall to uncouple the first wagon from the rest of the train. Nightall managed this quickly although the fire was now quite serious. Gimbert started to draw the wagon away and had moved it about and was still alongside the platforms at Soham station when the bombs went off. A much more severe explosion was averted by the men's actions.
The resulting blast killed Nightall immediately. Signalman Frank Bridges, who was on the opposite platform, died the next day. Gimbert, though badly injured, survived. Guard Clarke, although stunned by the blast and suffering from shock, managed to walk to the next signal box to warn the signalman there what had happened.
Official source
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