Freight Train Derailment at Cardiff May 1998

[TheMichaelWilcock]

Another good reason for having reliable contacts ref. what's happening on the rail network ( and the video camera always ready ! )

[Bevoin1970]

Sure does make a mess of the tracks when this kind of thing happens, kinda makes me wonder where on earth do you begin on the clean up operation... Good video!

[HornseaFilms]

Ah the days of RailTrack, I bet it was their fault this train derailed. It always is, hence why there's Network Rail instead now.

[samjane71]

You two at 2:48, don't just look at it, fetch a dustpan and brush !

[siobhan104]

Excellent. I remember my mate Derek telling me about this but thats the first bit of footage I have seen of it. Hell of a mess. Nice one. Had a cab ride in Gartcosh up at Machen Quarry once.

[TheMichaelWilcock]

The wagons were there for quite a few hours so I had time to go home for my video camera and buy a ticket to Cardiff Queen st and return !

[NJPurling]

Whatever happened occurred when the train was traveling at a reasonable speed. What a mess!

Could they even stop you filming nowadays? You were obviously a passenger with a valid ticket & by amazing co-incidence you had a video camera.

[TheMichaelWilcock]

Hi Nigel.See my previous note; I believe it was old sleepers that spread under the weight. Back in 1998 we only relied on the " grapevine " no email/ mobile phones then, so that's all I know. No doubt someone may give us the outcome of the enquiry

[Nigel16032009]

What the hell! I was trying to see what was derailed initially, but it became bloody obvious! What on earth went wrong? I bet it caused havoc with mainline services. Did they terminate at Newport?

[imautuber444]

I remember this happening, I was in cardiff the day after watching the cleanup. nice vid

[imautuber444]

@imautuber444 If I'm not mistaken, wasn't a homeless person sleeping under or next to the arches at the time of the derailment and injured by falling masonry?

[stripeypete1]

Brilliant video, fantastic footage :-)

[TheMichaelWilcock]

I believe the track spread underneath the heaviest train which then ran in S/Wales. It was only moving very slow at this point.

In otherwords poor maintenance and old sleepers..unless anyone else knows different ?

[kratos32godofwar1]

i mean how did it come off the rails like tht cos thts a masive crash??

[kratos32godofwar1]

dnt ever remember this ever being in the news??

[S2RUF]

Another great video Mike, i remember being in Cardiff when this happened. Stu

[TheMichaelWilcock]

I was lucky to have a tip off and time to drive into Cardiff for the shots. Don't forget this was in the days before mobile phones, internet etc

We relied on good contacts ( and still do ) Many of my videos are the results of years of contact building that's why now that I have the understanding of YT I like to share these images.

[NapierNimbus]

Excellent shots and great detail - amazing devastation to the track bed can see where the track has been ripped up - great archive shots

[robmasterman]

I remember this incident Mike, so it's wonderful to see this footage...excellent work again. The load haul 37 was 36884 named Gartcosh in 1992....Bob

[EWS60500]

Thats amazing, I never knew that there was a de-railment that bad there, I was only 6 at the time so I doubt I realy cared, haha!, still amazing footage, bet the people walking close by had a fright, must have made a hell of a noise,

[TheMichaelWilcock]

I beleive the track spread under the heaviest train in the UK. Old sleepers ?

[HSTHoward]

How did that happen? Nice one!

[Sly2Boy1]

:P Nice!

[TheMichaelWilcock]

I was lucky to have my video camera with me at the time. In 1998 cameras were quite large, but having said that nobody stopped me recording, whereas now no doubt there would be an immediate clamp down !

[mljones21]

Great video, thats a hell of a mess to the wagons and trackwork...ooch..