Almost ten years

On the 15th of February 2004 four railwaymen, who were working on the West Coast main line, were killed when they were hit by a runaway wagon carrying 16 tonnes of steel rail tracks. The accident happened close to this spot at Tebay and this is the stone, laid in memory of the four men.

In the end the rail boss and the crane operator were found guilty of manslaughter and were jailed. Apparently the boss had deliberately disconnected the hydraulic brakes on two wagons, as it was cheaper than repairing the wagon properly. Of course the incident was used by some to show what can happen with privatisation. Here is the full story for anyone interested.

In the picture you can see the memorial and a nicely tended garden, with the railway behind and the M6 behind that. This is the Lune Valley near Tebay, I've located it on the map.


Sheilwill and Willllwynbedw are in New Zealand at the moment. Willllwynbedw is posting some photographs of his paintings. Worth a look.