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Rail disaster of 1957 marked by St John's plaque

Sean Coughlan
News imageMirrorpix via Getty Images Scene of the Lewisham rail crash in 1957. An Express train ran into a stationary Electric train between Lewisham and St John's stations, London on 4th December 1957. The collision occurred underneath a loop line bridge, and the force of the collision catapulted the carriages into the air and brought part of the iron bridge weighing hundreds of tons, crushing down on the trapped passengers.Mirrorpix via Getty Images
The force of the collision catapulted the carriages into the air

A memorial plaque at St John's station in south-east London is to mark the deaths of 90 people in one of the worst disasters in British railway history.

Many more were also injured in the crash on 4 December 1957.

This is the first memorial in St John's to honour those who were caught up in the accident, in which two crowded trains - one electric, one steam - crashed on a foggy winter's evening.

The plaque is to be unveiled at a ceremony at 12:00 BST on Saturday, which will also include speeches, a local choir, readings and music.

News imageLitsa Breingan Plaque being placed on the wall at St John's station, remembering those who lost their livesLitsa Breingan
The plaque remembers the 90 people who died
News imageGetty Images Volunteers helping rescuers at the scene of the train crash near St John's in 1957Getty Images
There had been much praise for local people who had helped rescuers

The coverage of the crash at the time recognised the generosity of the local community who tried to help injured passengers, despite deeply harrowing scenes.

A debate in parliament the day afterwards heard praise for people in St John's who "so unselfishly put their houses and their belongings at the disposal of the rescuers".

The collision was a major national event, prompting a government report.

Investigators found there were about 1,500 people on the electric train and 700 people on the steam train involved, and it took more than a week to carry out the recovery and clear the tracks to re-open the rail lines.

The memorial in St John's has been funded by the Railway Heritage Trust and the local St John's Society.

The maroon-coloured plaque, on the long brick wall approaching the station entrance, is part of the London Borough of Lewisham's heritage scheme.

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