The Great Eastern train crash occurred on September 9, 1861, in the UK when the express train collided with a stationary freight train near the town of Walthamstow. The accident resulted in the tragic deaths of 25 people and numerous injuries to several others. The crash was attributed to a failure in communication regarding the train's signaling and a lack of proper safety measures at the time. This incident highlighted the growing pains of the developing railway system in Britain, leading to subsequent changes in railway safety practices and regulations. It significantly influenced public perceptions of rail travel and railway management.