The Inquiry
The inquiry, conducted by Major C.F.Rose, found the accident to be due to the following causes;
- It was found that the gas equipment which powered the warning lights on the advance warning board was not being used properly, and had thus gone out;
- A number of drivers on preceding trains noticed that the lights had gone out, yet did not stop at Nuneaton to report the fact;
- Although he claimed otherwise, it was thought likely that the driver, in his haste to make up lost time, forgot about the speed restriction without the reminder of the advance warning board.
The driver, Mr J. McKay, was later charged with manslaughter but found not guilty. A number of recommendations to prevent a recurrence of the accident were accepted by the British Railways Board, and the later installation of the Automatic Warning System ensured that drivers were given audible notice of speed restrictions.
Read more about this topic: Nuneaton Rail Crash
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