The two steam engines moved towards each other as the volunteer shunter stood on the line between them.
Rail accident investigators said one of the trains moved unexpectedly while being coupled to the second locomotive on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex.
The volunteer member of staff was on the track between the two steam engines at Sheffield Park station.
A spokesman for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said the volunteer had to move along the track between the trains at around 3pm on August 9 this year.
“A steam locomotive moved unexpectedly while it was being coupled to a second steam locomotive in platform one at Sheffield Park station.
“This caused both locomotives to travel together for approximately four metres, at slow speed.
“The unexpected movement forced the shunter to walk along the track between the two moving locomotives to avoid being struck. Once the movement stopped, the member of staff was able to climb back onto the platform.”
Despite escaping unharmed, the volunteer was shaken by the incident, the RAIB said.
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage railway in Sussex.
“At the time the movement took place, a volunteer member of staff, undertaking the role of shunter, was on the track between the two locomotives, coupling them together.
The shunter was not injured, but they were shaken by the incident.
“There was no damage caused to either locomotive or to the infrastructure of the railway,” the RAIB said.
Investigators said they will look into the sequence of events, actions of those involved, management and training of the staff involved and arrangements in place to manage and control the risks associated with the coupling and shunting of trains.
Source link
[Featured]
[Just In]
