Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

compartment at the rear of the train, were Mr Henry Wilkinson of Church, Mrs Barnes the Landlady of the Red Lion Hotel on Abbey Street, Mr George Haworth of the Kings Arms Public House on Lee Street, both in Accrington and Mr George Pickles, who was the Manager to the Trustees of the Estate of the late Joseph Barnes of Church. One of these passengers stated he was not sure if the brakes had been applied, but put paid to the rumours circulating that this train had overshot the platforms at both Helmshore and Haslingden stations, and had failed to stop at Baxenden. However, on the approaches to Shoe Mill they had all expressed the opinion that the train was travelling too fast. One had told Mrs Barnes to brace herself by putting her feet against the seats opposite, but the impact of the collision had thrown Mr Wilkinson dazed on top of her. She was the first to come to her senses and enquired how the others were, as the lights inside the carriage had gone out. Mr Pickles had escaped relatively unharmed. The only other passengers were in a 2nd Class carriage immediately behind the locomotive, and these were identified as Mr & Mrs Crawshaw of the Railway Hotel in Church, who were with relatives who were the proprietors of a baby linen shop on Blackburn Road. They were all badly shaken and Mrs Crawshaw, the sister-in law of the landlady, received a severe head injury. Mr Crawshaw was so concussed that he could not speak for several hours afterwards. The casualties were attended by Dr Russell and he was assisted later by doctors Arkwright, Gillespie and Popjoy, whilst the Assistant Superintendent of the East Lancs Division, Mr Goodier, was soon on the scene. Despite protest that he had pinned down the brakes near to Shoe Mill Viaduct, but due to the greasy state of the rails they had made no difference to the speed, Mr Hargreaves, a guard with several years’ experience, was suspended from work. He had jumped from the carriage onto the platform only seconds before the impact and was unscathed. May On the 25 th , an inquest was held at the Woodnook Inn on Marsden Street in Accrington, into the death of Platelayer Thomas Barnes, who was run over by three wagons whilst performing his duties at Accrington Railway Station on the previous Monday afternoon. Evidence was given by fellow Platelayer David Greenwood, who said they were working on the tracks, he on the outside, and Barnes on the inside of the tracks, when I saw three wagons coming down the incline from the Baxenden direction. The Brakeman on these wagons was Abraham Chadwick. In his evidence he said the train was en route from Manchester to Preston via Accrington, and the engine had detached to run down the Blackburn line to fetch a brake van, whilst these three were the first to be shunted. “I attempted to stop the wagons but did not have the strength to hold them in time. I shouted as loudly as he was able a warning of their approach, but another train was approaching from the Burnley direction which made a noise, so I called out again, but Barnes did not hear. I saw Greenwood step away and gesture to Barnes when the wagons were about 15 yards distant, but Barnes made no attempt to move. There had been ample time for him to get out of the way had he heard the warnings. The three wagons all heavily laden with coal struck Barnes who then tried to run along the track, but the wagons caught him up and ran him over”. He was taken to his house when doctors Gillespie and Russell amputated his leg but he died whilst the procedure was taking place, his other leg also being badly crushed. The Coroner said that despite the prompt attention of these two competent physicians, the injuries were so severe that he could not be saved, and gave a verdict of accidental death. Robinson Gibson, of Willows Street in Accrington, was the Inspector on the goods train, and had called out to a Pointsman as to which siding these wagons were to be directed, and he having heard this instruction, he had carried out this movement for the locomotive to pass. Once it had gone the Platelayers had returned to their work on the tracks. There would then be a short time before the wagons would follow the locomotive down. At this point there was some dispute as to whether the loco had gone over the same track as the wagons. Greenwood stated that Barnes had been cautioned on many occasions that he did not move off the tracks quickly enough, but had responded to these warnings by saying, “I know how to look after myself!” June On Monday, the 6 th , an excursion train from Yorkshire to Blackpool broke the axle of its front driving wheels two miles east of Accrington Station, where it was due to halt to take on water. The driver had heard the sound of it breaking, slowed, and had continued with great caution to avoid any catastrophe. At Accrington the defective locomotive was replaced by another and the excursion was allowed to continue. The following day, Sunday the 7 th , due to an incident which had occurred at Hoghton Station, an excursion train which was due to have arrived back in Accrington at 9pm was delayed. It eventually

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