On Friday 28th June, the extended Railway Family joined with local residents to unveil a new stained-glass window in St Peter's Church, Hixon Staffordshire to mark the Hixon Rail Disaster 56 years, 5 months ago on January 6th, 1968.
In this accident, a British Rail Express train hit a Low Loader Lorry on a level crossing resulting in 11 deaths and 45 injuries.
This accident launched a national inquiry that helped pave the way for improvements to the safety of Level Crossings across the UK.
The window was designed and put up by local business owner Glyn Rayson to celebrate the long-term relationship between the railway, the former RAF training airbase RAF Hixon, and St Peters Parish.
The installation was co-funded by several Rail organisations including CrossCountry, ASLEF, Network Rail, and Avanti West Coast.
Its design includes the former British Rail logo, which was carried on the locomotive involved in the accident, the crossed keys of St Peter, as well as a roundel to represent the former RAF Hixon Air Base.
A service was held at the church to mark the installation of the window, and a wreath was laid at a memorial headstone in the memorial garden to commemorate the victims of this tragic accident.
The newly installed window is available to view by the public at St. Peter's Church, Church Lane, Hixon.
It's a privilege to return to Hixon to see the dedication of this important memorial window to remember the tragic events of 1968.
Though of course such incidents are rare, their impact is often felt beyond the boundary of the railway, and this beautiful window pays tribute to the ongoing relationships between the railway and local communities here in Hixon.
Cross Country's Head of Traincrew Strategy John Robson
