Carrbridge rail disaster

ID: GB1796_1999_116_192 DESCRIPTION: On 18th June 1914 a bridge over the Baddengorm Burn near Carrbridge collapsed, causing part of a passenger train to fall into the burn. Five people were drowned. The official report into the disaster, dated 10th July 1914, outlined the circumstances that led to the accident. "In this case, as the 11.50 a.m. Passenger train from Perth to Inverness was crossing the bridge carrying the railway over the Baddengorm Burn, the bridge collapsed and fell, carrying with it the fourth vehicle of the train. The burn was in very high flood at the time. Five passengers were drowned, and ten have complained of shock or injury." The report noted that the bridge over the burn, built in 1893, was "of a very solid construction", and that "the collapse of the bridge was due to no want of attention or care on the part of those responsible for its maintenance." Instead, the report concluded that the accident was caused by an unusually heavy rainstorm, which swelled the burn and caused the bridge to be swept away. Robert MacKinnon, whose farm bordered the Baddengorm Burn testified in the official report that, "In his experience of 35 years he had never known anything like it, and he described how the flood appeared to come down in a wave 18 inches deep, which spread over his grounds, washing off the soil for nearly an acre." This image can be purchased. For further information about purchasing and prices please email the Highland Photographic Archive quoting the External ID. PLACENAME: Carrbridge DISTRICT: Badenoch OLD COUNTY/PARISH: INVERNESS: Duthil and Rothiemurchus DATE OF IMAGE: June 1914 PERIOD: 1910s SOURCE: Inverness Museum and Art Gallery COLLECTION: Joseph Cook Collection Asset ID: 11262 KEYWORDS:

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