Index to railway accidents - TNA's catalogue

[Geoffers]

For anyone looking for family involved in railway accidents see this news item from TNA

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/473.htm

It should make life a little easier to identify records of interest.

Note that you may have to visit TNA to view the actual records.

[Jack Richards]

Thanks Geoffers for that information.

Regards

[British Viking]

Hi Geoffers

I've just had a look at that interesting link.

One of my ancesters got run over by a train (details of wish I do not wish to divulge here on a public forum).

Would TNA have access to records of these types of railway accidents?

BV

[Kerrywood]

One of my ancesters got run over by a train . . . Would TNA have access to records of these types of railway accidents?

Yes, an accident report would be standard, whether involving passengers or staff, but I believe not all the report books survive for all years.

For your (and anyone else's) interest, here's a transcript of a report into such a rail accident in 1914. I transcribed this some years ago from RAIL 1053 at TNA Kew. The names of those involved have been changed.

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Summary of Accidents and Casualties reported to the Board of Trade by the Several Railway Companies in the United Kingdom during the Three Months ending 31st December 1914.

South Eastern and Chatham Railway

Sir,

I have the honour to report for the information of the Board of Trade that, in accordance of the Order of September 15th, I have held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the accident which occurred on August 31st. at Clapham, on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway, whereby labourer Frank Simmonds was fatally injured.

Simmonds was acting as look-out for three carpenters who were repairing the timbers on Bedford Road underbridge. The men were working on and near to the down line, and Simmonds had been standing outside the up Metropolitan line, and had been giving warning of trains on the down line, up main line and up Metropolitan line. About 6.25 a.m a passenger train passed on the down line, and immediately afterwards the 5.40 a.m. passenger train from Orpington to Victoria was seen to be approaching on the up main line. James S. Parker, the fireman on the latter train, stated that he saw Simmonds standing clear of the up main line, but in the six-foot way between the up main line and the up Metropolitan line, when the engine was about 30 yards from him.

As the engine was coming on to the bridge the whistle was sounded by the driver as an acknowledgment of the lowering of the Clapham home signal, and Parker then saw Simmonds just in front of the engine attempting to step back into the six-foot way.

Simmonds was struck by the engine and was fatally injured.

Simmonds does not appear to give any warning of the approach of the up train, and evidently failed to see it until the engine whistle was sounded. I was unable to discover why he was walking across the up lines, but I consider that the accident must be attributed to his own want of care. At the same time, I do not consider Parker is free from blame. If he had sounded the engine whistle when he first saw Simmonds, it is probable that the accident would have been prevented.

Simmonds had been on duty about 25 minutes when the accident occurred.

I have, etc.,
J H Armytage [Assistant Inspecting Officer]

=============

I hope that gives you an idea of what you might expect to find, at least at that date.

[v.wells]

Thanks Geoffers :)