Road Accident at Swanage 15th June 2002 - Train Driver praises Emergency Services

Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - 16th June 2002
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright. To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.

One of the Swanage Railway's volunteer steam train drivers who found the dead and injured victims of a tragic road traffic collision trapped in the wreckage of their car in a deep railway cutting near Corfe Castle is praising the emergency services for their skill and professionalism.

The couple in their 60s from the Leamington Spa area of Warwickshire were spotted just after 10.05 am on Saturday, 15th June, 2002, when the Swanage Railway's first steam train of the day on the relaid Purbeck Line, -the 9.50 am Swanage to Norden park and ride - was one mile south of Corfe Castle.

The steam locomotive driver was father of two children Peter Duncalfe of Corfe Mullen near Wimborne who happened to be celebrating his 40th birthday on the day of the accident.

The Swanage Railway is not releasing the names of the steam train's fireman and guard, at their request, but the fireman comes from the Eastleigh area of Hampshire and the guard (who works as a firefighter) from the Bath area of Somerset.

All three were experienced volunteer train crew and fully trained for their duties.

Speaking about yesterday's incident, steam locomotive driver Peter Duncalfe said: "As a train driver you are always looking ahead along the line for something unusual and out of the ordinary.

"As I rounded the bend about a quarter of a mile from Afflington Bridge, I saw that something had knocked some trees and bushes down from the bridge abutment on to the side of the track and then I saw the wreckage of a car on the line.

"At first I thought that joy riders might have pushed it into the cutting from the road above during the night.

"We were only travelling at about 20 mph with the first four-coach public train service of the day and I made an emergency brake application - stopping the train about 300 yards short of the bridge. I made the locomotive safe and informed the guard.

"The locomotive fireman and the guard, who works as a firefighter, went to the car to see if there was anyone inside and if they could help.

"They found two people inside - the male driver who had sadly died and the woman was seriously injured. I raised the alarm by dialling 999 on a mobile phone," added the driver.

The experienced steam locomotive driver, who has been a Swanage Railway volunteer since 1977 and a steam locomotive driver since 1987, is full of praise for the speed, professionalism and skill of the emergency services.

"The paramedic car was on the scene within three to four minutes and the fire brigade from Swanage was there almost instantly after that. Then the police and ambulance services arrived," he explained.

"The skill of the air ambulance helicopter pilot who took the injured woman to hospital was incredible and unbelievable - it was awesome.

"First, the helicopter landed on the rails and at 90 degrees to the rails while a member of the crew got out and then the pilot took off and landed on a small level area of grass between the rail and where the railway embankment side starts to drop. It was amazing," added the driver.

After the alarm was raised, a steam locomotive was sent from Swanage and attached to the stranded steam train so that it could be returned to Swanage.

No train passengers were injured and their safety was not in danger.