Now forgotten, the Saltcoats Train Disaster was a relatively big incident, with 4 killed and dozens injured. It occurred on 25th Sep 1939, just a few weeks into WWII.
Here is a report of the accident:
"The 12.30 p.m. express passenger train from Glasgow Central to Ardrossan, when travelling at moderate speed, was derailed on the bridge carrying the roadway over Canal Street, Saltcoats, and, after running a short distance, the engine and tender ran down the embankment and overturned, being followed by the three leading coaches. I regret to state that two passengers and the fireman were killed and the driver died in hospital a few hours afterwards; 6 passengers were detained in hospital and a total of 53 others received minor injuries or suffered from shock."
The site of the crash is now 92 Canal Street, which was then the Miner's Convalescent Home. Here you can see it in the background:
The home had a chequered history. In the late 50s and early 60s it was used to house construction workers building the Hunterston Nuclear Power Station. It then became the Maple Leaf Hotel, which then became the Silver Sands Hotel, and later Ramson’s Hotel, closing in the 1980s, after which it was converted into the Seabank Care Home. This was apparently demolished and rebuilt in 2011 (for an unknown cost) and then closed down in 2018, following what appears to be a serious "embezzlement incident" involving over half a million pounds. More recently it was refurbished for another £600,000 to become a Drug Rehabilitation Centre run by the Phoenix Futures NPO/ "charity."
Local residents were not consulted by North Ayrshire Council on the choice of their neighbourhood to host people with serious addiction issues.
The home had a chequered history. In the late 50s and early 60s it was used to house construction workers building the Hunterston Nuclear Power Station. It then became the Maple Leaf Hotel, which then became the Silver Sands Hotel, and later Ramson’s Hotel, closing in the 1980s, after which it was converted into the Seabank Care Home. This was apparently demolished and rebuilt in 2011 (for an unknown cost) and then closed down in 2018, following what appears to be a serious "embezzlement incident" involving over half a million pounds. More recently it was refurbished for another £600,000 to become a Drug Rehabilitation Centre run by the Phoenix Futures NPO/ "charity."
Local residents were not consulted by North Ayrshire Council on the choice of their neighbourhood to host people with serious addiction issues.
Is it just me or does this site seem cursed in some way.
There is some Pathe News coverage of the crash:
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