What happened to the Taunton sleeper train in 1978?

At around 2:40am on 6 July 1978 a fire broke out aboard the Penzance to Paddington sleeper train. The fire took hold while the occupants were sleeping - they were slowly overcome by the fumes and carbon monoxide. This tragically caused 12 fatalities and a further 15 people were injured.

The train car SLC W2437 was constructed in 1960. It was a steel-frame structure mounted on bogie wheels and 64 ft 6” long. It had a vestibule and gangway at both ends with two exit doors in each vestibule.

One end contained two lavatories placed symmetrically on either side of the gangway between the exit doors. At the other end the exit doors were immediately adjacent to the gangway. In the centre of the corridor side there was an emergency exit door - unlike the other four doors this one did not have a drop-light window or outside handle - it could only be opened from inside by removing a tear-off strip at the top of the door and pulling the release handle.

The car had 11 compartments and an attendant’s pantry, equipped with a washing-water heater and a water boiler for teak making, both fuelled by propane gas.

During 1976 an overhaul of the cars introduced an electric heating system, with each compartment housing an electric convector heater. There were also electric heaters in the lavatories.

How did the Taunton sleeping car fire start?

The most likely cause of the fire was several piles of linen stored in plastic bags stacked next to the electrical heating system. It’s probably that excessive heat caused the bags to melt. The bags were placed blocking one of the escape routes.

An interview with staff confirmed that it was routine to locate the linen pile at this location - an operation unchanged for some 18 years since the introduction of the car.

What can the industry learn from the Taunton sleeping car fire?

The accident brought about changes to management and services to sleeping car carriages. The drop-light windows in all berths were examined and were put out of use.

Instructions were given that the communication bell systems must operate correctly. Attendants were also issued with a portable warning horn for use as an alarm whilst on duty - they were required to be tested before starting each journey. All cars were also to be equipped with a CO fire extinguisher in each pantry.

The autopsy report suggested that some of the victims had suffered fatal heart attacks - each of them unaware of the rising temperatures and conditions within the carriage.

Initial reports indicated that fire crew had difficulty during their attendance because doors on the train were locked, while rising heat and reduced visibility hampered the search and rescue. The report concluded:

• Locked doors hampered the evacuation and firefighting efforts
• There was no means of fire detection, firefighting and prevention methods
• There was a lack of emergency training for staff