Local talk on rail disaster

The Hixon Rail disaster of just over 50 years ago which shocked the nation will be the subject of a talk at the next meeting of the local group for the Friends of the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway.

The accident followed a period of modernisation and cost cutting on UK main line railways by the introduction of unmanned and half-barrier level crossings, replacing the traditional full-gates controlled by a crossing-keeper.

The disaster takes its name from a village in the Midlands, near to which a Manchester to London electric express train collided with a low-loader carrying a transformer at a newly installed automated crossing. 

The speaker will be Malcolm Garner who has given a number of talks to the group before on a variety of topics.

The unfolding events will be recounted on May 20 in the Welshpool Town Hall, beginning at 7.30pm.

Members and non-members are welcome to attend with a small charge of £3 to cover costs. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available, and there will be a raffle.

Full details of the group and its activities are available on http://welshpoolareagroup.org.uk/