Railway accident, Lonsdale Street, Accrington

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File details

iBase ID

229993

Reference identifier

hac19122009002

Title

Railway accident, Lonsdale Street, Accrington

Place

Accrington

General notes

This accident occured in September 1899 when the steam train crashed through the buffers and came down in the street between two sections of the railway bridge.
The Burnley Express told the whole story the following day:
"Singular Railway Accident at Accrington - Miraculous Escapes"

An extraordinary railway accident occurred at the Lonsdale Street railway Bridge, Accrington shortly after Monday midnight.
A goods train from Yorkshire to Hellifield which had been drawn up in the siding at Accrington, received the signal to proceed.
But the points not having been turned, the engine ran into a set of buffers immediately adjoining the bridge and the new span being constructed.
The stoker jumped from the footplate when he realised what must happen, but the driver stuck to his engine and, marvellous to relate, escaped uninjured.
Both driver and stoker are Wakefield men.
The buffers of the engine buried themselves in the pavement, but the tenders remained intact, nor were the waggons smashed."

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