 The Abbots Ripton signalman was evidently dazed by the events; he set his signals in both directions to 'danger' but did not (as he should also have done) immediately send the 5-beat 'obstruction danger' bell signal to Stukeley, the next signal box south.Instead he tried to send a message reporting the crash and seeking assistance by the speaking telegraph to Huntingdon station to the south.He prefixed the message with the special 'SP' code indicating top priority but the signalman at Huntingdon did not answer.