A DISASTER PREVENTED

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 91, 15 October 1934, Page 5

A DISASTER PREVENTED

The promptness of an engine-driver saved a collision between two trains at Gatcshead, Durham, from being a very serious one. As it is, a guard was injured and six passengers received minor hurts, says a London paper.

Joseph Levison, of Newcastle, the driver of a train from Newcastle to Middlesborough, was waiting outside Gateshead for v signal from his guard before proceeding. Suddenly he saw the train to South Shields coming up behind him on the same track. He could see it was gathering speed ns it came round tho bend out oi' the station.

"I saw immediately that a crash' was certain, and at once I. opened my throttle full out to try and get away in lime. I did not manage it, but succeeded iv getting my train under way, so that the force of the impact was much lessened. I expected to sec the guard jump out, but he stuck to his post. It amazes me that he is still alive, for his whole van was completely wrecked." Eye-witnesses of the accident all agreed that if Mr. Levison had not got his train started when he did the collision would have had terrible results.

Both trains were crowded with people returning to their homes from work in Newcastle. The guard's van in which the injured guard was travelling was smashed like matchwood, and half of its bodywork was completely shattered. After treatment at a hospital, Guard Rowley was able to go home. He had a bad head wound which needed stitching, and was suffering from shock.