SCOTTISH SMASH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20009, 7 August 1939, Page 5

SCOTTISH SMASH

HOLIDAY EXPRESS WRECK

FOUR KILLED; 20 INJURED

ENG INF/ S TRAG 1 C 1 ’ LUNGE EX-MINERS AID RESCUE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. August .7, 9 a.m.) LONDON, August 0. The engine -and three carriages of the Isle of Arran express from Glasgow yesterday, plunged over an embankment at Saltcoats, 30 miles from Glasgow. The death roll totals four, including the driver and fireman Of the train. There were also 20 persons injured. The driver, who subsequently died from scolds, tried to extricate the fireman from under the engine, which was impossible until a crane was requisitioned

The train's eight coaches carried 400 holiday-makers. The engine plunged down an embankment when rounding a curve and finished up within five yards of a miners’ home whose 50 inmates rushed from their lunch to aid the rescue.

An unemployed man turned off the steam after a crippled inmate of the home had penetrated the scalding clouds in order to liberate those trapped.

The first coach and several other coaches were telescoped. One carriage perilously hung over the embankment. The rescuers had to use axes to release the terrified occupants of the carriage nearest the tender.

After being rescued from the wreck, a woman gave birth to a baby at an adjacent house.