Forty-two years ago a community was left in shock after a double-decker bus was hit by a train on a crossing.
Back in November 1982, A Carlton-bound double-decker 43 bus was hit by a coal train in the early afternoon on Netherfield Lane crossings in Netherfield.
The bus was spun around and pushed 20 yards along the track.
The train involved was hauling empty coal trucks on the link line to Gedling Colliery.
The bus driver and the only passenger – an elderly man – both escaped serious injury, although the double-decker was left badly damaged.
The driver claimed at the time the warning lights, which should flash for three minutes before a train arrives, had not worked.
An inquiry into the incident was expected but a spokesman for British Rail said on Monday they were satisfied with eye-witness evidence on the matter and would not now be holding any inquiry.
Following the incident, councillors called for measures to be put in place to prevent another serious rail crash at a Gedling Borough Council meeting.
Labour Group leader Cllr Arthur Palmer wanted the council to back his motion calling on British Rail to install automatic barriers at the railway crossing in Netherfield Lane, Netherfield.
Cllr Palmer, who represented Netherfield, told the Nottingham Trader at the time that the council’s Labour group had strongly objected to British Rail removing the old crossing gates and installing a new-style crossing without gates.
He claimed there had been no consultation with public in the area, and the crossing was “fraught with danger.”
Coun Palmer said that in a previous incident a runaway wagon from Gedling Colliery had crashed through the gates.
He also warned that the opening of the area’s new loop road during the following month could treble the volume of traffic using the crossing and considerably increase dangers, he added.
“The road surface is bad at the crossing and it only needs someone to be a bit late for work and take a risk and there could be an accident worse than this one,'” he said.
Netherfield residents started a petition to get barriers installed at the railway crossing.
They started the petition over fears pupils of a nearby infants school who walk over the crossing could have been in danger.
I remember that day vividly.
Coming home from school and being walked over the crossing. The size of railway engine was a scary thing to a 5 year old holding his mum’s hand tightly as we were guided past the remains of the bus as well.
I think my mum still has the Evening post news clipping.