1988 Clapham Junction railway crash

36 years ago today at the exact time I type this, I was on a train into work in London. Like any other work day, I sat reading a newspaper as the train trundled through Clapham Junction station. This would not be like any other day for commuters on trains running a few minutes behind me.

That day, one of the worst train disasters in UK history occurred  south of Clapham Junction railway station. A crowded commuter train crashed into the rear of another train that had stopped at a red signal. An empty train traveling in the opposite direction then sideswiped the stationary train. 35 people died in the collision, while 484 were injured, 69 seriously.

Obviously i was oblivious to the carnage that was unfolding behind me. This was before mobile phones and rolling news channels. It was only later in the day that I was told about the crash. Even then, it took several hours for the seriousness of it to become clear.

The collision was the result of a signal failure caused by a wiring fault. New wiring had been installed, but the old wiring had been left in place and not adequately secured. The required supervision hadn't been performed. A contributing factor to the number of casualties was the old wooden-framed carriages that disintergrated on impact.

There's a memorial plaque on the side of the railway line where the accident occurred. Tens of thousands of travelers pass it everyday, but few even know of its existence or what it commemorates. I still sometimes pass through Clapham Junction station on a train. When I do, I sometimes wonder what could have happened if I had been running a few minutes late that day. Could I have been on a train that was involved in the crash?

The day that changed Ireland

On this day in 1921, a treaty was signed by representatives of Britain and the Irish parliament (Dáil Éireann) that would have ramifications to this day. A war of independence had been grinding its way to a stalemate between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and British forces. Over three years, the violence escalated to a point where it became clear neither side was likely to win. Against this background talks took place to end the conflict.

The IRA's objective was to win independence from Britain. Britain on the other hand was recovering from a long conflict itself in Europe, and was beginning to see the demise of its empire. Much has been written about the peace talks and the politics at play, particularly about the role of the two main Irish figures, Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera. They didn't agree on a strategy for the talks, and the British exploited this.

The talks resulted in a proposal to grant independence to the 26 counties in the south of Ireland. The remaining six (Northern Ireland) would remain part of the United Kingdom. The population of those six counties was largely Protestant following >hundreds of years of emigration from Britain. The proposal didn't sit well with the IRA. They saw the six counties remaining as British as a betrayal of their objective. The problem was Britain was unwilling to grant independence to the whole of Ireland. It was a "take it or leave it' proposal.

Early in 1922 a fractious and emotional debate on the proposal resulted in a majority voting to ratify the treaty, passing it into law. The war of independence was over and most of Ireland had independence. The problem was Ireland went from one conflict to another, only this time between Irishman and Irishman. The Irish Civil War started.

Although the conflict was relatively short, the ramifications of it can be felt to this day. Those who fought are no longer with us, but Irish politics is still mired in it. The three main parties in Ireland are:

• Fianna Fail: Founded by Eamon de Velara after a split with Sinn Fein, it was opposed to the treaty.
• Fine Gael: Originated out of the independence struggle and the pro treaty members of the Dáil.
• Sinn Fein: The political wing of the IRA was founded in 1905 as part of the independence movement.

Some say there isn't a lot of difference politically these days between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Both are centre right parties, but for many decades men and women voted for them based on which side of the treaty debate they agreed with. Recently, Sinn Fein has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the 26 and 6 counties. As a socialist party, they've positioned themselves on the left of Irish politics. They pick up votes as a reaction to what people see as two parties arguing over just who's the more conservative.

With the six counties still part of the United Kingdom, and Sinn Fein unwilling to relinquish its claim for independence for the whole of Ireland, Irish politics looks likely to continue in the same vein for years to come. Let's hope any major change that comes the way of Ireland in peaceful.