FAO Buenchico

[wolf63]

Are you out there - lurking in the hinterland between reality and the virtual universe?

I need to ask you a choo-choo question and know that you have some knowledge.

Have I caught your attention? I don't want to type out my rambling question if you have gone to walk the cat or something.

Susan

[wolf63]

Chris!

[wolf63]

Here goes -

My parents are both dead. From 1949 (when he was demobbed – spent time in Berlin during the airlifts) until about 1990/91 my dad was employed by British Rail or whatever it was known as at various times.

My mother (who was not a reliable source of information) told us (my brother and I) that my dad was involved in a train crash during the 1950s – and I would like to find out about the incident.

It was most likely to have happened during the period 1956 to 1963. She said that a train was derailed at Moncrieffe Tunnel (aka Friarton Tunnel and Perth Tunnel). It was a steam train and my dad was probably the fireman – but may have been the driver.

The train derailed and my dad was thrown down a banking along with some coals – I am not sure if the train toppled or what. My mother said that some ‘deal’ was done and my dad got money from the company so that the incident was not made official. Not sure about that – pretty hard to hide a toppled train.

I have Googled all the relevant keywords and found zilch, Scottish Daily Mail archives were also checked. I checked the Railway Archives website.

Any ideas of where I can look to find out more details – more to fill in information for family history for my brother’s kids and their families. My kitties don’t care about such things.

[scotman]

Wolf

I have emailed the gist of your question to someone I know who was born in Perth in late 1940s. Will report back if he knows anything.

[wolf63]

scotman - that was very kind of you. If I had found the information at an earlier stage I may have lost interest - but finding nothing about it is driving me nuts.

Do you still reside up here in civilisation or have you moved south to Engerlund?

[scotman]

Still here in Edinburgh.

[ladyalex]

You might want to try the Dundee Courier archives.
They have a Perthshire edition and I'm sure would have reported any derailments etc.

I cannot find the archives online, but I'm sure if you contact the Courier they will give you some advice as to how to search.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/

[Buenchico]

Hi Wolf:
I can't be everywhere you know!

History is definitely not my subject. However I have read the classic book on British railway accidents, "Red for Danger" by L T C Rolt. (Unfortunately, I lent my copy to someone and I never got it back). If anyone knew about the accident, Mr Rolt will have done. The book was first published 40 years ago but (because it's such a compelling read) it's still in print. The current edition costs £14.99 (discounted to £10.43 on Amazon) but, to check to see whether there's any reference to the accident you mention, an older copy will do. (Under £3, inc p&p, here: http://www.amazon.co....sr=8-6&condition=used ).
Alternatively, your local library should be able to order a copy for you.

Chris

[wolf63]

ladyalex - I forgot about the Courier. I get the Perthshire Advertiser weekly and Daily Mail each day - so these were the papers that I thought of.

scotman - I like Edinburgh. I used to work for DWP/DHSS and we had a training centre in the building across from Haymarket station. The smell of beery hops was overpowering.

chris -
"Hi Wolf:
I can't be everywhere you know"

How no?

Will see if I can get a copy of that book.

Thank to all of you.

[scotman]

wolf

This might help, if you are desperate

http://scottishnewspapers.com/

[wolf63]

Thanks scotman - will check the papers out tomorrow.

When I am looking for information on the web I have a tendency to dive in and search around without any master plan.

[kawakiri]

I've checked in here but can't find anything.
http://www.railwaysar...o.uk/eventlisting.php

[kawakiri]

Sorry just noticed you had tried there.

[scotman]

Wolf

Just had reply from my Perth friend. He has no knowledge of any such crash at that tunnel.

[wolf63]

Scotman - thanks for asking your friend. It will annoy me - but my mother was an expert at mangling any piece of information.

Susan

[Sir Alec]

Let me hear your Balalaikas ringing out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTR06YItGVo

[Sir Alec]

I'm so sorry about that, I pressed the enter button before changing thread. Interesting topic! Apologies again.

[wolf63]

At least it was a half decent video of music.


I like this one:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa4sE5q7ogg

[Sir Alec]

Nice choice, wolf63, I too like Ray Charles.