On 23 June 1999, a Virgin Trains electric express train from London Euston to Glasgow Central, hauled by Class 87 No 87027 Wolf of Badenoch, ran into an empty First North Western four-carriage Pacer unit, injuring 27 people.
Eccles was awarded a medal for his prompt action, which averted a much more serious accident.
[1] The Pacer had passed a signal at danger and run through a set of points, coming to a stand on the line on which the express was approaching.
Its rear cab was destroyed in the crash along with a section of the passenger accommodation, and the coach bodies were displaced from their underframes.
Due to the severe level of damage sustained by the Pacer train, the safety of the units were investigated as part of the inquiry into the accident.