Memorial service to be held to mark Lanarkshire rail disasters

A MEMORIAL service will be held today to mark the 80th anniversary of one of Scotland’s worst rail disasters.

On December 10, 1937, 35 people were killed and 179 injured when two trains collided at Castlecary, Lanarkshire.

In a blinding snowstorm, the Edinburgh express hit a late running Dundee train, both of which were travelling to Glasgow.

The first doctor on the scene was Thomas Reilly, who would go on to be awarded the Military Cross while serving in the Second World War.

Following investigations, a signaller’s error was blamed for the horrific crash.

A plaque was erected in the village 20 years ago by councillor Billy Buchanan, of neighbouring Falkirk Council, and the local community council later unveiled its own memorial.

It sits in the village’s memorial garden, where this evening’s service will take place.

Also being remembered at the observance are the two victims of a second Castlecary rail crash, in 1968, when a light engine collided with a 12-carriage passenger train.

Councillor Buchanan has written to local residents asking them to pay their respects at the service, which begins at 5.45pm.