A SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1094, 2 April 1880, Page 3

A SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

•, ♦ On JanAary 15th a fearful accident took pla’ce at the Brickfield Siding, on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, England, which has resulted in the death of ten men and injury moVe 'bv less severe to more than twenty persons. Through Some blundering on the part of the signalman on duty at Burscbugh, the train which left the junction at five minutes past six for Liverpool was turned on the down line, and it had not proceeded on its way more than 200 yards when it dashed into an express train fiom Liverpool. The crash was terrible, both engines being telescoped and completely embedded in each other. The van of the Burscough train was tin-own over the engine, the first two carriages of each train were completely shattered, and the passengers thrown about in all directions. Those who were but slightly injured scrambled out of the carriages, and the railway officials, who had heard the shock of the collision, immediately made preparations for extricating the injured passengers. A number of medical gentlemen went down by special (rain and rendered very valuable service. The permanent way was blocked. Gangs of men were engaged all night repairing the injury. The injured were taken to Preston Infirmary by special train at 10 o’clock. The explanation given, by the station authorities is that on getting the signal from the platform that all was ready the station signalman, through some misunderstanding, must have turned the points back. He states that the points were properly fixed until he saw that the train had passed them, when hO let them go and signalled to the

Burscough cabin for the other train to come on. The inquest was opened on January 17th. Anthony Melia, the pointsman, was taken in to custody, and was present during the inquiry Most of the people injured in the collision were progressing very favourably V/hen the mail left.

For remainder of news see last page.