Railway Adventures and Anecdotes: Extending over More Than Fifty Years
History
Railway Adventures and Anecdotes: Extending over More Than Fifty Years
Railroads
“Sir,—I beg to inform you of a serious accident, attended by severe
injury, if not loss of life, which occured to-day to the 8 o’clock a.m.
train from Wakefield, on the Great Northern railway, near Doncaster, by
which I was a passenger. As the train approached Doncaster, about 9
o’clock, the passengers were suddenly alarmed by the vehement oscillation
of the carriages. In a few seconds the engine had run off the line,
dragging the greater part of the train with it across the opposite line
of rails. By this time the concussion had become so vehement that the
grappling chains connecting the engine, tender, and first carriage with
the rest of the train providentially snapped. This circumstance saved
the lives of many. But the engine, tender, and first carriage were
hurled over the embankment, all three being together overturned, and the
latter (a second-class one) nearly crushed. The stoker was severely
injured on the head, and his recovery is more than doubtful; the engine
driver contrived to leap off in time to save himself with a few bruises.
The shrieks of the passengers in the overturned carriage (three women and
five men) were fearful; and for some time their extrication was
impossible. One middle-aged woman had her thigh broken, another her arm
fractured. One old man had one, if not two of his ribs broken. The
passengers in the other carriages, in one of which I was travelling, were
less seriously injured, though sufficiently so to talk about
compensation, instead of assisting in earnest those with broken limbs.
The line of rails was torn up for a considerable distance. Owing to the
telegraph being out of gear, some delay in communicating with Doncaster
was experienced. A surgeon and various hands at length arrived with a
special train for the injured passengers, who, after long delay, were
removed to Doncaster. I, of course, as a medical man, rendered what
assistance I could. Those worst injured were conveyed to the Railway
Arms, the recovery of more than one being doubted by myself. At length a
fresh train started from Doncaster, and we reached London nearly two
hours after due.
The carelessness of the Company will, I hope, be the subject of your
severest animadversion. The accident was caused by the tire of one of
the right wheels of the engine having flown off; and it is clear that the
engine was not in a condition to ply between the stations of the Great
Northern railway.
I have no objection to your use of my name if you think fit to publish
it.
Your obedient servant,
Thomas Waddington, M.D., of Wakefield.
Morley’s Hotel, Charing Cross, March 26.
To the above letter the following reply was sent to the _Times_.
“Alleged Accident on the Great Northern.
“To the Editor of the _Times_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account