
The events of August 12, 2020 will stay in our hearts and minds forever – but what actually happened that day?
Here, we look at the sequence of events on the morning of the Stonehaven rail crash, considering which trains ran, which trains didn’t and how weather played a part in the day’s events.
5am – Passengers arrive at Aberdeen station.
5.06am – The first train departs Aberdeen on time, and runs to Montrose without incident.
5.30am – Dark clouds gather over Angus.
6.38am – The 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street train departs Aberdeen, driven by Brett McCullough.
6.39am – The 6.39am Montrose to Aberdeen service departs Montrose. The train’s service number is 2B13.
6.54am – Brett’s train collects passengers in Stonehaven and leaves the station on time. It is now the 6.54am service from Stonehaven.
7am – After leaving Montrose, train 2B13 arrives at Carmont. The driver spots debris on the other side of the track. He stops and radios the signalman at Carmont Signal Box, who then alerts Brett. Brett stops 1T08 at Carmont.
7.05am – Without incident, 2B13 passes what would later be a crash scene.
7.14am – 2B13 arrives at Stonehaven station, lets off its passengers and is taken out of service.
7.15am – As dark skies remain, rail staff must decide if Brett’s train should proceed to Glasgow or return to Stonehaven – but that needs a mobile operations manager to come out.
9.34am – Brett’s train begins to move.
9.38am – The train comes round a bend, strikes the gravel. Rather than following the track to the right as it curves, the train continues straight and strikes a bridge. The power car goes over the bridge and falls down an embankment. The second passenger car falls on top of the first. The third one falls down the embankment and the fourth one stays upright, along with the rear power car.

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