40th Anniversary of the Summit Tunnel Disaster

On December 20, 1984, a routine freight journey through Summit Tunnel turned into one of the most ferocious underground transport fires in history. Forty years later, we remember the disaster that tested emergency services and left a lasting mark on the area.

In the early hours of that December morning, a freight train carrying over one million litres of petrol derailed inside the 1.6-mile-long Summit Tunnel, situated between Littleborough and Todmorden. A failed axle bearing on the fourth tanker caused a derailment, leading to a catastrophic fire. Flames shot up to 500 feet through the tunnel's ventilation shafts, and temperatures inside soared to approximately 1,530°C. ​

Approximately 160 firefighters from West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester battled the blaze, which took four days to extinguish. Remarkably, no lives were lost, and the 143-year-old tunnel withstood the intense heat. The Leeds to Manchester railway line was closed for eight months, during which time significant repairs were undertaken. 

The fire prompted the evacuation of 170 local residents and the temporary closure of local roads and services. The event remains etched in the memories of those who witnessed the towering flames and the resilience of the emergency services.