The Darlington rail accident occurred on the evening of 27 June 1928 when a parcels train and an excursion train collided head on at Darlington Bank Top railway station in County Durham, England.

A short while after the station foreman instructed the signalman to allow the parcels train to move forward, beyond the scissors crossing at the south end of the platform.

Within 10 yards of the signal at "danger", the shunter believing the train was now stopping, released his brake.

[3] The driver of the excursion train stated he had less than two seconds to act during which time he made a continuous brake application.

The following surge resulted in the three front vehicles being significantly damaged, with the second and third carriages telescoping.

A tragic feature of the accident was that because the severe damage was localised, many of the deaths occurred among a group of women returning from a Mothers' Union outing from the colliery township of Hetton-le-Hole.

"It was like a mining disaster with women rather than men as the victims; there were four widowers in a single street".

Qualified medical assistance had arrived within 25 minutes, possibly via Greenbank Hospital and the Fire Brigade were also in attendance.

The report did however praise his quick thinking in releasing the brake, this may have prevented further injury and damage.

Driver McNulty of the excursion train could do nothing to prevent the collision and was fully exonerated, as were the Darlington signalmen.