Leech, Macclesfield, Photo
Some were overturned on their sides, and one was so turned over as to stand on end, while an eye-witness stated "that some of the carriages were broken through by the carriage behind causing both sides of the interior compartments to meet and demolish the fittings." All together fourteen persons were killed and about forty or fifty injured, one lady having both her legs cut off.
Abbots Ripton, near Huntingdon, on the Great Northern Railway, was the scene of a terrible collision—or, rather, two collisions—on January 21st, 1876. A coal train of 33 waggons and a brake-van left Peterborough for London at 6 p.m. It was 18 minutes late in starting. The weather was extremely boisterous and stormy, while the snow fell in large flakes thickly and fast, seriously obscuring the outlook of the driver and guard of the train. The latter had seen the signals at Holme Station, and at the blocks at Conington and Wood Walton, which showed "all clear."
BULLHOUSE BRIDGE DERAILMENT—CAUSED BY THE BREAKING OF AN AXLE.
Bamforth, Holmfirth, Photo
At Abbots Ripton the train slackened speed, as it was signalled to cross into a siding to permit the Scotch express, which was due from Edinburgh for London, to go by. The greater part of the goods train had passed safely into the siding when the Scotch express dashed into it at full speed with most disastrous results. By the force of the collision the engine of the Scotch express jumped across the down line on to the bank, where it fell on to its broadside, dragging with it the tender and three or four succeeding carriages. Hunt, the guard of the coal train, displayed great presence of mind. He asked the signalman if he had blocked the down line, but the latter was so agitated by the disaster—which had happened within a few yards of his box—that he inadvertently declared he had.
THE SMASH AT NEW CROSS, IN WHICH THREE PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
Thiele, Photo