The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has opened an inquiry following a near miss involving a member of staff at Sheffield Park station on the Bluebell Railway earlier this month.
The incident occurred at around 3pm on Saturday, 9 August 2025, when a steam locomotive unexpectedly moved while being coupled to another locomotive on Platform 1. The unplanned movement caused both engines to roll forward slowly for around four metres.
At the time, a volunteer shunter was working between the locomotives to connect them. As the engines began to move, the staff member was forced to walk along the track between them to avoid being struck. Fortunately, the movement stopped before any impact occurred, and the shunter was able to climb back to the safety of the platform.
The volunteer was unharmed but left shaken by the ordeal. Neither of the locomotives nor the station’s infrastructure sustained damage.
The RAIB has confirmed its investigation will examine the sequence of events leading up to the near miss, including the actions of those involved, training and competence arrangements for staff, and the procedures in place to manage shunting and coupling operations at the heritage railway.
The branch will also consider whether any underlying factors contributed to the incident. Its findings will be published at the end of the investigation and may include safety recommendations for the wider railway sector.
Sheffield Park is the headquarters of the Bluebell Railway, one of the UK’s best-known heritage lines, operated largely by volunteers and popular with visitors from across the country.
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