Taunton sleeping car fire [SEP] point in time
Taunton sleeping car fire
In the early hours of 6 July 1978, a fire broke out in a sleeping car train near Taunton, Somerset, England, causing the death of 12 people and injuring 15. The fire was started by an electric heater that had been obstructed by sacks of dirty bed linen, causing it to overheat. Most deaths were due to smoke inhalation.
In response to the incident, British Rail adopted various fire safety measures on the newly introduced Mark 3 passenger carriages.
Background.
The
"United Kingdom" – Taunton train fire, Taunton, England: A fire aboard a British Rail sleeping car travelling from Penzance to Paddington station in London kills 12 people. Investigation shows that the fire was caused by the careless placement of a plastic bag of linens against a heater in the car's vestibule.
- September 10, 1978 – "United States" – As the result of a hotbox, 15 cars of a Conrail freight train derailed at a grade crossing in Miamisburg, Ohio, demolishing a house and killing