Disaster remembered on

RESPECTS were recently paid to the memory of the victims of a rail tragedy which ocurred 75 years ago.

The Castlecary Rail Disaster is one of the most infamous train crashes to have occurred in Scotland; 35 people were killed and 179 injured – most of them seriously – when two passenger trains collided at Castlecary Station on December 10, 1937.

Ten years ago the people of Castlecary unveiled a plaque at the Garden of Remembrance, which was itself constructed as a permanent reminder of two children who died after falling into an abandoned mineshaft when it suddenly opened up at the village swing park.

Councillor Bob Chadha, who represents Cumbernauld North for Labour, attended the ceremony. He said: “The people of Castlecary still remember this tragic rail disaster and want to continue to commemorate it. I was pleased to be associated with this just as I was pleased to be associated with the creation of the memorial.”

There was another rail crash at Castlecary in 1968, which was also a rear-end collision. On this occasion two train crew lost their lives.

Pat Reid, the provost of Falkirk, and local councillor Billy Buchanan also participated in the wreathlaying ceremony last week, as did members of Castlecary Community Council.