How many people notice the two memorials at Moorgate station to the 43 killed and 74 injured on Friday 28 February 1975 in what’s often described as the worst peacetime accident on the London Underground?
After a long campaign by supporters and relatives of the victims a memorial was unveiled in July 2013 in the south-west corner of Finsbury Square listing all those who died. The following year, on 28 February 2014, Fiona Woolf, the Lord Mayor of London, unveiled a memorial plaque on the side of the station building, in Moor Place.
The accident happened at 8.46am. The driver, 56-year-old Leslie Newson, drove the train into a wall causing the carriages to be concertinaed into each other. It was later discovered that the brakes were not applied and the ‘deadman’s handle’ was still depressed at the time the train crashed.
It took all day to remove the injured, many of which had to be cut free. After five more days and an operation involving 1,324 firefighters, 240 police officers, 80 ambulance workers, 16 doctors and numerous volunteers all of the bodies were recovered. The driver’s body was taken out on day four. His crushed cab, at the front of the train, normally 3-foot deep, had been reduced to 6 inches.
On 19 March a memorial service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral, attended by 2,000 mourners, including representatives of the emergency services and Newson’s widow and family.
There were also many other stories of ‘close escapes’ – for example, students from the nearby City of London Girls School should have been on that train, but the school was closed due to external examinations being held that day.
I recently saw a Facebook post where people were posting their recollections of the awful event. I was struck how these memories were as vivid as if the accident had happened yesterday…
“I remember chatting to a local barber in Moorgate when I was researching a walk. He told me how, in the days before mobile phones, journalists and emergency services came to him to use his phone. He remembers some of the telephone conversations and realised just how bad the disaster was.”
“I was awaiting an op in Barts and they had to reschedule. I remember being pushed through the hospital and seeing all the injured passengers.”
“My aunt was in the second carriage. How she survived with just a broken arm and some cuts God only knows! I was 7 years old at the time. She never went on the underground again after that.”
“My sister missed that train because her alarm failed to go off.”
“I remember it well. Terrible tragedy. Watching on television trying to dig people out from the tunnel.”
“My mother in law, Eileen Hallett, was the last person to come out of hospital alive. She had two broken legs, shoulder and ribs.”
“I worked at Gordon’s Gin and we had a medical team coming in asking if we would give blood to the injured if they needed it. Was so sad.”
“I was at Highbury Hill School. We were told that one of our teachers’ husbands had died. Mrs Prevost, geography teacher.”
“Working just around the corner. Ambulances kept flying past, taking the injured to hospital. But I always got the bus from Highbury.”
“I will always remember the Vicar at Mary Mags school, coming in to tell us his daughter was on that train. I think a few days later him telling us she had passed”
“I also remember chatting to a local Barber in Moorgate when I was researching a walk. He told me how, in the days before mobile phones, journalists and emergency services came to him to use his phone. He remembers some of the telephone conversations and realised just how bad the disaster was.”
“I worked with someone whose three sons were in the fire brigade who would normally work different shifts. Were all called there to help.”
“My sister was on the train behind. Lucky mum decided to sew button on her outfit that dropped off rather than leave it otherwise I wouldn’t be here. Xx”
“I was 16. They were asking for blood donors. Someone I worked with asked if I wanted to come as he was a donor. I said yes but when I got there I didn’t weigh enough. So disappointed I couldn’t donate.”
“I got on that train every weekday but always got off at Highbury. I always got in the front carriage. But I had the day off. I have wondered how it would have felt if I had sat or stood with people who would have died a few minutes later. It affected everyone in the area. It seemed unreal… I have been into Moorgate many times since and my thoughts always go back to that sad day.”
“My dad, by all accounts, rushed up the stairs at Essex Road Station and got on the platform just as the train doors closed. He normally got on the front carriage. While waiting for the next train to Moorgate, the lights flickered and dimmed. The station was then closed as the commuters waiting were asked to leave. I was at school in Old Street when the news came through. Panic set in as I knew my dad would have been on a train around the time. Relief came when my mum rang the school during the lunch break to say he was safe and well. He was, among others, very lucky. Many others, including the mother of an old school friend, were not so. RIP one and all.”
“I remember that well. My cousin’s husband was one of the firemen there.”
“Did not know what happened as I just gave birth to my son in Barts Hospital. I remember a lot of nurses and doctors rushing around in the sirens going. Awful so sad x”
“I remember this as I had just packed up work as my eldest daughter was due! It was a few weeks after I stopped work or I may have been involved in it ! Scary x”
“My mother-in-law Eileen Hallett was the last person to come out of hospital alive. She had two broken legs, shoulder and ribs.”
“My Aunt was in the second carriage! How she survived with just a broken arm and some cuts God only knows! I was 7 years old at the time. She never went on the Underground again after that.”
“I was at work at Barclays head office in St Swithin’s Lane at the time the call went out for blood donors and most of us responded. Terrible day.”
“My grandparents’ friend was in the first carriage and I remember them going to his funeral. Sadly I can’t remember his name but it is on the memorial.”
As the memories I’ve posted here demonstrate, the horror of that day still lives with those affected by the tragedy.
Next time you walk past the two memorials – take a moment to remember the full extent of the disaster that happened so close to where you are standing, and the lives lost and affected on that tragic Friday morning.
You can book tickets to all of Chris’s upcoming walks via Eventbrite and follow her on Instagram at firstandquirkylondonwalks. Find out more about upcoming guided walks in Islington and Clerkenwell at our website.
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