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Pitsea |
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1956 and 1961 Pitsea Rail Accidents
In 1961 two serious rail accidents occured on each of the two lines serving Pitsea railway
station. Both of the accidents resulted in the loss of life and injuries to many others. Prior to these
accidents the last incident involving a fatality is believed to have occurred in 1956 of which more can be read further down this page. |
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(© Essex Fire Service Museum) | 
(© Essex Fire Service Museum) |
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Tuesday 18th April 1961
The first accident involved the 12:25 Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness service. The train, which was
carrying around 150 passengers, was travelling on the Up line in the Down direction; the line at
the time of the incident was being worked as single only part way between Laindon and Pitsea due
to the then ongoing electrification engineering work. At around 1:34 pm confusion involving the
catch points resulted in the steam tank locomotive No. 80075 being derailed along with the first
four coaches of the eleven coach train. The locomotive ended up on its side leading to extensive
damage to the first four carriages causing the death of two passengers and injuries to forty six
others. The accident made the national headlines and news teams with a film crew were soon on the
scene. The following day in the house of commons the Minister of Transport Ernest Marples in response
to a question from the MP for Billericay Edward Gardner gave a detailed statement of the tragic
events. He made note that an emergency bus service was in operation between Pitsea and Laindon
and that rush hour trains were diverted via Tilbury to all stops beyond Pitsea. Normal services
had resumed by Wednesday 19th July.
Date of report: 14th July 1961
Author: Colonel John Richard
Hugh Robertson
Copyright Information: This document is Crown Copyright.
Publisher: Ministry of Transport, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1961. |
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Read the full Accident Report. (Opens in a new window)
Now available. |
Here is a link to the original ITN black
and white news clip. ITN News Clip. |
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Sunday 30th July 1961
The second accident involved the 10:05 am Tilbury to Thorpe Bay service. The eight coach train
on its approach to Pitsea station struck a tipper lorry on the Marsh Road Pitsea Hall Occupation level crossing
resulting in the death of the lorry driver and seriously injuring a female pedestrian at the scene. The lorry
was conveying spoil to Pitsea tip from building sites during the creation of the new town. The crossing
was unmanned at the time and the train drivers view was impaired by stationary wagons in an adjacent
siding. The locomotive and carriages remained on the rails throughtout the incident. The deceased
lorry driver Mr. W. Pound was employed by building contractors Thomas Bates & Son and had driven to
Pitsea in a small convoy with two other lorries, also laden with spoil.
Date of report: 25th October 1961
Author: Colonel W.P. Reed
Copyright Information: This document is Crown Copyright.
Publisher: Ministry of Transport, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1961. |
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Read the full Accident Report. (Opens in a new window)
Now available.
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George Saunders
On Thursday 11th October, 1956 George Saunders, a retired master baker from Vange, was killed on an unmanned occupation
level crossing leading to Kiln Farm, Vange. He was on a visit to the farm when his stationary car was struck by a passenger
train coming from the direction of Stanford-le-Hope. Although he wasn't in the car the cause of his death was due to being
struck by the vehicle following its initial impact with the train. A jury at the subsequent inquest returned a verdict
of accidental death.George Thomas Saunders, known as "Doughy" Saunders, ran the record bakery at No.93
High Road, Vange, which he established with his brother Walter around 1913. He was very well known locally and often led
the Pitsea & Vange Carnival on horseback dressed as the 18th century imaginary character John Bull, the personification of
Great Britain. He lived at Kestell House, Timberlog Lane and was also a founding member of Pitsea Masonic Lodge. He was
succeeded in the business by his son Thomas who ran the shop until 1963; selling out to the development corporation who
demolished it in preparation for future development planned for Vange. |
 The Record Bakery
The record bakery was the first shop in the direction of Pitsea after the Barge public house. The building was semi-detached with
upper living accommodation. The shop next door - No.91 - for many years was Douglas Royce's gentlemens hairdressers, which after the
bakery closed moved virtually opposite to No.62 High Road. The shops were demolished around 1964.
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Text researched and written by William Cox, 2014.
Copyright © 2014, B.Cox, Basildon History Online. All rights reserved. |
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| Page added: 12/01/2014 |
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Contact: E-Mail |
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