The World War I disaster of 22nd May 1917, which befell the 7th Battalion of the Royal Scots (still even today Britain’s worst railway accident), remains a vivid event in Scottish eyes.
The complex and disturbing account continues to dominate in the history of the Royal Scots. The account below, written by our Patron, Colonel Edward Cowan, illustrates the depth of interest held and the strength of the response whenever the phrase Quintinshill Disaster is encountered.
The illustrations depict both the start of this ill-fated journey and the aftermath, together with the attention to model details, achieved jointly by Royal Scots’ personnel and members of the Great Central Railway Rolling Stock Trust – who are proud to host a fully-restored gas-lit carriage of the period. This has long been dedicated to the Battalion and those who died, were seriously injured or survived.
Colonel Cowan writes:
The Royal Scots Regimental Association is extremely grateful to the GCR Rolling Stock Trust for the support you have given to us over a number of years and in particular for the restoration of the carriage similar to the type involved in the Quintinshill rail crash of May 1915 involving the deaths of over two hundred members of the 1/7th Battalion of the Royal Scots.
Quite recently John Quick constructed a model of Larbert Station in Scotland from which this battalion embarked on a train made up of ancient six wheeled gas lit wooden carriages. He also provided two OO gauge carriages of the same type and made sure that the
completed model was transported safely to Edinburgh. One of the photographs shows the model set up with two senior members of the Royal Scots Association standing behind it.
The other photograph shows some of the model soldiers standing on the platforms ready to board the train which Colonel Edward Cowan, our patron, has provided from a Swedish 3D
printing company. He has also created two more carriages and has now bought an 00-gauge model of a T9 tender engine of similar design to the class 113 Caledonian engine which hauled the original train on its fateful journey. This is being considered for some alterations to meet the original engine’s appearance. Together with the now 4 carriages this is planned to fill the complete station model, reviving the embarkation scene so long ago.
It is hoped that the Royal Scots Association with be able to negotiate for a permanent place for this excellent model in the Museum of Scottish Railways at Bo’ness. We will let you know when this has been achieved. In the meantime, many thanks again to John Quick and the GCR Rolling Stock Trust for all your support to the Royal Scots Regimental Association and the memory of those Royal Scots killed in this horrific train crash of 110 years ago.
Pictures of record:
Exiting Larbert Station circa 1910
Model Station – general view
Officers awaiting arrival of ‘other ranks’
Senior Officers view the model at the exhibition
A wide view of the exhibition ~ Designed for all ages of visitors
Detailed work in progress ~ 2 further carriages under construction
A scene from the aftermath ~ Royal Scots’ survivors and locals combine to aid the rescue (Courtesy of the Scottish Daily Mail)
In perpetual Memorium ~ 946’s dedication to the 7th Battalion The Royal Scots
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