London Underground Moorgate Disaster 50th Anniversary
The London Underground Moorgate disaster on 28th February 1975 was a devasting train crash which took the lives of 43 people and caused devastation to many other people.
Two of the platforms at Moorgate are termini. In 1975 eye witnesses watched in horror as the train went through the station at full speed. It came to a sudden halt when it crashed into the buffers and end wall. The train compressed under the extreme forces of the crash, enveloping the driver and passengers in the wreckage.
Those called to the scene were presented with a complex 3D puzzle from which victims and survivors needed to be extracted. Days later, they reached the final casualty – the driver in his cab pinned against the end wall of the tunnel into which the train had slammed.
In the wake of Moorgate, many changes were made to railway operation and the response of the emergency services to major incidents.
Fifty years later, 28th February 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of the Moorgate Underground disaster. Flanked by preserved and modern day fire appliances, a memorial service was led by the Fire Brigade Chaplain Mia Hilborn and attended by survivors, families, the original rescuers and their modern day LFB counterparts.
Standard Bearers
The Attendees
The old fire engine in the background is OXT779, a London Fire Brigade AEC Regent Merryweather Emergency Tender. It came into service in 1954 and carried heavy rescue equipment.
In 1975, OXT779 was one of the fire engines which attended the Moorgate disaster.
Group Photos
Appliances
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