{"id":38206,"date":"2024-05-08T18:22:05","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T08:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=52324"},"modified":"2024-05-08T18:22:05","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T08:22:05","slug":"gbrf-locomotive-named-after-reluctant-hero-signalman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=38206","title":{"rendered":"GBRf Locomotive named after reluctant hero signalman"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UK avoided a freight disaster forty years ago, thanks to a brilliant, but modest signalman. Commemoration has been made for the quick thinking and potentially life saving actions of Willie Taylor. On the fortieth anniversary of his actions, Carlisle Signalman Willie Taylor has been honoured with a locomotive named in his memory at Carlisle Citadel station.<\/strong>
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GB Railfreight, a company that didn\u2019t exist at the time of the incident, has commemorated the actions of Signalman Willie Taylor. GBRf named a workhorse class 66 locomotive after the modest railway professional who averted a certain disaster for the city of Carlisle. The choice of a familiar locomotive would be approved by Willie, who never claimed to be anything other than a man doing his job.<\/p>\n

Certainly averted disaster<\/h2>\n

It has been largely forgotten, but averting Carlisle\u2019s biggest rail accident was all down to the swift actions of a signalman. Quick thinking by Willie Taylor resulted in a train wreck for sure, but it certainly averted a railway disaster. If not for his split-second decision, the city of Carlisle would be scarred to this day by a traumatic crash, right in the middle of its busy station.<\/p>\n

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The guest party at the naming of 66308 Signalman Willie Taylor at Carlisle Citadel station 1 May 2024. Image: \u00a9 GBRf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last Wednesday (1 May), on the platform at Carlisle Citadel station, GBRf Asset Director, David Golding officiated at a ceremony to name one of the company\u2019s class 66 locomotive 66308 \u201cSignalman Willie Taylor\u201d to mark 40 years since an incident few people recall. The reason the \u201cRiver Caldew Crash\u201d has not passed into notoriety is down to Willie\u2019s actions, and his modesty in the aftermath.<\/p>\n

Grace under pressure<\/h2>\n

On the morning of 1 May 1984, Willie Taylor realised that a freight train carrying dangerous chemical goods had become uncoupled south of Carlisle and was rolling northwards, downhill towards Carlisle Citadel station. He quickly and calmly switched the uncoupled wagons onto an empty freight track – a route reserved for freight – to avoid the busy passenger station.<\/p>\n