When the engines finally met, there was a deafening clash and the Brighton Express twisted and buckled, tipping its carriages onto the other line and producing a cacophony of screams, howls of pain and groans from the passengers. It was a scene of utter devastation." "October 1854. As an autumnal evening draws to a close, crowds of passengers rush to make the departure of the London to Brighton Express. A man watches from the shadows nearby, grimly satisfied as the train pulls out of the station ..." "Chaos, fatalities and unbelievable destruction are the scene soon after when the train derails on the last left of its journey. What led to such devastation, and could it simply be a case of driver error? Detective Inspector Colbeck, thinks not.