View source for Geurie crossing loop collision

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox public transit accident
| name                = Geurie crossing loop collision
<!-- Image          -->
| image               = 
| image_size          = 
| image_alt           = 
| caption             = 
<!-- Maps           -->
| image_map           = 
| image_map_alt       = 
| image_map_caption   = 
| pushpin_map         = New South Wales
| alternative_map     = 
| pushpin_map_alt     = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[New South Wales]]
| mapframe            = 
| qid                 = 
| mapframe_zoom       = 
| coordinates         = {{Coord|-32.396101|148.827662|format=dms|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark|display=it}}
<!-- Details        -->
| date                = 23 August 1963
| time                = 9 pm
| location            = {{NSWcity|Geurie}}, [[Central West (New South Wales)|Central West]] region, [[New South Wales]]
| location_dir        = East
| location_city       = 
| location_dist_km    = 
| location_dist_mi    = 
| country             = [[Australia]]
| line                = [[Main Western railway line, New South Wales|Main Western railway line]]
| operator            = [[New South Wales Government Railways|NSWGR]]
| owner               = 
| service             = 
| type                = Collision
| cause               = Signal failure
<!-- Statistics     --> 
| bus                 = 
| trains              = 2
| vehicles            = 
| passengers          = 110
| crew                = 4
| pedestrians         = 
| deaths              = 0
| injuries            = 19
| damage              = Both engines withdrawn due to damage
| property            = 
<!-- Route map      -->
| route_map           = 
| route_map_state     = 
| route_map_name      = 
<!-- Footnotes      --> 
| footnotes           = 
}}

The '''Geurie crossing loop collision''' occurred on the night of 23 August 1963.  [[Geurie, New South Wales|Geurie]] is located between [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]] and [[Dubbo]] in [[New South Wales]], Australia.

== Events ==
The Sydney-bound Bourke Mail train, with 110 passengers, was steaming towards Geurie station. The locomotive was [[New South Wales C38 class locomotive|C38]] Pacific steam engine, 3817. Standing in the loop, beside a grain silo,  was a goods train, hauled by a {{convert|265|t|ST|0|adj=on}} Beyer-Garratt [[New South Wales AD60 class locomotive|AD60 class]] locomotive 6003. It was refuged so as to cross the Mail train.<ref name=ipl>{{cite book| title=Australian Railway Disasters| last=Pearce| first=Kenn| year=1999| publisher=IPL Books| location=Davidson| isbn=0-908876-09-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Crosby|first1=Heather|title=Geurie crash still vivid in minds of survivors after 50 years|url=http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/1726254/geurie-crash-still-vivid-in-minds-of-survivors-after-50-years/|website=[[Daily Liberal]]|accessdate=3 March 2017|language=en|date=24 August 2013}}</ref>

The length from the front of the Garratt locomotive to the driver's position contributed to a misjudgment of standing clear of the mainline. 3817 collided with the Garratt locomotive at an estimated speed of {{convert|32|km/h}}.<ref name=ipl/>

The fouling point, as was common practice at the time, was marked by a white lamp on a white post located quite close to the actual fouling point.  The points at the entrance to the loop were operated by a [[ground frame]] and interlocked with signals using [[Annett's key|annett keys]].  There were no [[track circuit]]s over the points which might have detected the foul locomotive and thus held the home signal at "red" and thus stopped the mail train short of the obstruction.

The impact of the two locomotives colliding forced the Garratt into the side of the silo and reared up its boiler section on to its leading water unit. 3817 was derailed and pushed over on to its side. Three carriages of the Mail train were also derailed. The collision damaged approximately {{convert|60|m}} of track on the main line and loop and the line was not reopened for another three days.<ref name=ipl/>

== Damages ==
A total of 19 passengers aboard the Mail train were injured.<ref name=ipl/>

Due to the considerable damage to both locomotives and the decline of steam traction then under way, neither 6003 nor 3817 returned to service.<ref name=ipl/>

== See also ==
{{stack|{{portal|New South Wales|Railways}}}}
* [[Zanthus train collision]]
* [[Lists of rail accidents]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{1963 railway accidents}}
{{Railway accidents and incidents in Australia}}

[[Category:Railway accidents and incidents in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Railway accidents in 1963]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving New South Wales Government Railways]]
[[Category:1960s in New South Wales]]
[[Category:August 1963 events in Australia]]
[[Category:Train collisions in Australia]]
[[Category:Main Western railway line, New South Wales]]
[[Category:Central West (New South Wales)]]
[[Category:1963 disasters in Australia]]