Leander was approached by the Friends of Chapel-en-le-Frith railway station to help conserve a recently discovered relic from the 1957 rail distaster.

A distorted and twisted wagon buffer from the wreckage, had been discovered in undergrowth near the station platform & this was the catalyst for a small, but meaningful commemorative display on the platform.

In addition to carefully conserving the buffer and making it suitable for secure external display, Leander provided a full turn-key service. This entailed generating a new wall mounted interpretive display unit complete with artwork and installing both the panel and Buffer to the station platform.

This is a unique, cost effective display - providing some important background to a local tragedy.

Background:

In February 1957, father-of-two John Axon, from Edgeley, Stockport, died when his train ploughed into Chapel-en-le-Frith station and smashed into the back of a slow-moving goods train.

The accident happened after his engine's braking system exploded and his freight train went out of control.

As he and his fireman, Alf Scanlon, and guard, Alf Ball, approached Bibbington Sidings, north of Buxton, a steam pipe feeding the brakes split. Boiling water burst from the pipe, burning John's legs, and the braking system was destroyed.

But the train, pulling 33 loaded wagons, was on a downhill section of track and began to gather speed. Instead of abandoning his footplate, John yelled for fireman Alf to jump clear.

He then stayed at the controls and desperately battled to gain control of the engine with the train hitting speeds of 60mph.

His warning to the signalman meant a diesel train was moved out of the way just in time, but his train careered into Chapel-en-le-Frith station, hitting a goods train.

The impact sent 30 wagons spiralling into the air, killing John and claiming the life of John Creamer, from Adswood, the guard of the other freight train.