Locomotive runaway at Beddgelert

[Adlington]

At around 09:15 hrs on Tuesday 16 April 2019, a light diesel locomotive which was descending a 1 in 40 gradient towards Beddgelert station on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway, was unable to slow down.

The locomotive was travelling at around 10 mph (16 km/h) for 1.25 miles (2 km) without the driver being able to reduce its speed. It passed over a number of open level crossings, through Beddgelert station, past a signal placed at danger and into a single line section without authorisation. The locomotive stopped when the gradient levelled out 0.6 miles (1 km) after the station. There were no injuries.

No damage, no injuries, RAIB will investigate.

 

[Llanigraham]

Oops!!

 

[Ploughman]

Wonder if there are any similarities with this
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...three-crew-members-04-02.177745/#post-3922254 in Canada recently
or the Austrailan one.

 

[Adlington]

Similarities? The Beddgelert accident involved a light locomotive, not a long heavily loaded goods train.

 

[Ploughman]

Similarities? The Beddgelert accident involved a light locomotive, not a long heavily loaded goods train.

Not thinking about what lies behind the loco, but more the braking systems.

 

[Belperpete]

Not thinking about what lies behind the loco, but more the braking systems.

The F&WHR uses vacuum brakes, which I understand don't suffer the same issue as mentioned in that thread?

 

[tiptoptaff]

The F&WHR uses vacuum brakes, which I understand don't suffer the same issue as mentioned in that thread?

Vacuum can and does leak off, but takes a lot longer than a single piped air brake losing pressure and leaking off. A well sealed vacuum tank will hold the brake for weeks.