At approximately 19:20 on 16 January 1944, in dense fog and
wartime conditions, the 14:38 express train from
Yarmouth was stopped at Ilford en route to
London Liverpool Street. Due to poor visibility, the driver had not seen several caution signals and subsequently stopped past a signal at danger. The driver walked to the
signal box and after a short wait was given a "line clear" by the signalman. As the driver returned to his train the signalman received a telephone call from a colleague in the adjacent box reporting that the following train, the 14:40 express from
Norwich Thorpe had also passed his signals at danger. The Ilford station inspector, who had arrived at the signal box to find out why the Yarmouth express had stopped, was sent to place detonators at the rear of the train, however, before he was able to take any action the Norwich train ran into the rear of the Yarmouth service at a speed of . The Yarmouth train comprised a
4-6-0 steam locomotive hauling nine coaches and a two-coach articulated set. The Norwich service was made up of a 4-6-0 locomotive,
an LNER B17 No. 2868 Bradford City, hauling ten coaches and a two-coach articulated set. Both services were busy with passengers. There were nine fatalities as a consequence of the collision, including
Frank Heilgers, the
Member of Parliament for
Bury St. Edmunds. Twenty-eight people were hospitalized and ten others suffered shock or minor injuries. ==Aftermath==