Strong wind effects on railway operations - 16th October 1987

A brief review is undertaken of the general effects of strong winds on British Rail (BR) operations. Focusing, in particular, on railway vehicle overturning the effect of the great storm of 1987 on BR operations in the South-east is examined from BR contemporary sources. These show in graphic detail the degree of destruction and the gradual paralysis of the network as it occurred early on 16th October. A discussion is undertaken of the reasons for the absence of a vehicle overturning incident despite it being likely that wind strengths were sufficient for this to happen. It is concluded that this was due to the time of day of the storm peak and the rail system becoming fail-safe by tree fall.