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Horsham Rail DisasterPrint Page 
The plaque commemorates eleven people who were killed when a tourist bus and a train collided at Horsham in February 1951.
At 3.50pm on Saturday, February 24, 1951 a tourist bus and a freight train collided at the Dimboola Road crossing. The incident remains one of the most terrible in the Wimmera's history. District Coroner P.R. Biggin headed the inquiry, in which the bus driver told how sun glare was a major factor in the crash. Horsham resident James Patrick Doorty was the train's fireman. He told how it appeared the bus was about to stop, but then gained speed as if trying to get across the crossing. Eleven people were killed in the disaster.
Location
| Address: | Dimboola Road, Horsham, 3400 |
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| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -36.707934 Long: 142.190781 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Land Transport |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 24-February-1951 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 24-February-1951 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Thursday 21st June, 2007 |
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To the memory of eleven travellers
24th February 1951
At this location a tourist bus and a freight train returning to Horsham fron Natimuk / Goroke collided at the then Dimboola Road (Western Highway) level crossing, resulting in the worst loss of life at a transport crash in Western Victoria.
Eleven travellers lost their lives and a further seventeen were heroically rescued, including eleven injured.
As a result of this incident a more proactive approach to road / rail level crossing safety on the Western Highway was adopted.
Cr Gary Bird
Mayor Horsham Rural City Council
21st June 2007
