The Flying Scotsman express from Edinburgh Waverley to London King's Cross failed to slow down for a diversion and derailed.
Twenty-eight people were killed, including the talented Scottish biochemist, John Masson Gulland.
The train was scheduled to divert from the fast line to a goods loop at Goswick, Northumberland, between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Morpeth, because of engineering work.
[3] The driver, fireman and guard had all failed to read or react to the notice of the diversion posted at Haymarket depot.
A similar accident had occurred two years earlier at Bourne End, Hertfordshire, killing 43 people.