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GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line
Henley in Arden - gwrha759
View of GWR 4-4-0 Atbara class No 3382 'Mafeking' lying
severly damaged on its side after the accident at Henley-in-Arden. The accident
occurred on Saturday 24th June 1911 when the 11:00 pm express summer excursion
from Wolverhampton to Weston-super-Mare crashed through the bay buffers at
Henley-in-Arden at a speed of approximately 40mph. The locomotive was deemed
damaged beyond repair and condemned, although it was not officially withdrawn
until September 1911. Fortunately no one was killed in the accident, but the
driver, fireman and eleven passengers were injured. The six coach express
excursion was scheduled to pass through Henley-in-Arden station just two
minutes after the last local train of the day had terminated there.
Although the express was running late, the local train, a
Steam Railmotor from Moor Street, was held back at a previous station to
allowed the express to pass ahead. At Henleyin-Arden signalman Carter was
still expecting the local train first and in preparation had set the points and
signals for the bay platform. When the express excursion arrived it therefore
crossed the up line into the bay platform and travelling too fast to stop, the
locomotive careered through the buffers at the end of the bay, finally coming
to rest on its side partially on the up line just beyond the station. An
enquiry determined signalman Carter was at fault and the head shut at the end
of the bay platform was later extended.
Robert Ferris
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