I moved to the stranger who was holding the lamp. He was in official uniform.
‘Are you the guard of the 12.0 out from St Pancras?’
‘I am.’
‘Where’s your train? What’s happened?’
‘As for where it is, there it is, right in front of you, what’s left of it. As to what’s happened, why, we’re wrecked.’
‘What do you mean by you’re wrecked?’
‘Some heavy loaded trucks broke loose from a goods in front and came running down the hill on top of us.’
‘How long ago was it?’
‘Not ten minutes. I was just starting off down the road to the signal box, it’s a good two miles away, when I saw you coming. My God! I thought there was going to be another smash.’
‘Much damage done?’