Despite an emergency brake application, the train entered the 20 mph restriction at an estimated and derailed on a sharply curved length of temporary track being used during the remodelling scheme. The locomotives became detached from one another; the first continued in a straight line and came to a stop half way through the station between the platforms, and the second veered sideways, striking and then mounting the northbound platform, coming to a rest after colliding with the platform canopy. The coaches behind them derailed and zig-zagged across the tracks causing severe damage to the track and lineside structures. The first two coaches stayed mainly upright, but the next four fell on their sides, badly crushing the third, fourth and fifth coaches. All the fatalities and most of the injuries occurred in these four sleeping cars. Every vehicle on the train was derailed except the last. The inquiry noted that casualties would have been much higher if not for the lightly loaded nature of the train (there were fewer than 100 passengers on board).