Ambulance wagons for treating staff

[RWLDproject]

Hi All,

Came across a reference on Wikipedia to the Midland Railway keeping an 'ambulance wagon' at Toton to provide treatment for injured shunters, and wondered if anyone had any more info on this?

Interested in Toton or any other UK location (outside the works like Derby or Crewe, which had their own facilities).

Thanks!

Mike

 

[Rescars]

On an associated topic, a loco used to be kept in steam 24/7 at Riccarton Junction, so medical help could be brought into the roadless community whenever the need arose.

 

[randyrippley]

I'd be inclined to think the "wagon" was a horse-drawn road wagon fitted with a stretcher

 

[RWLDproject]

On an associated topic, a loco used to be kept in steam 24/7 at Riccarton Junction, so medical help could be brought into the roadless community whenever the need arose.

Good point. Always liked Riccarton Junction!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jun 2023 ==

I'd be inclined to think the "wagon" was a horse-drawn road wagon fitted with a stretcher

Thank you - that's a good idea.

 

[Gloster]

I'd be inclined to think the "wagon" was a horse-drawn road wagon fitted with a stretcher

Thank you - that's a good idea.

I would agree: neither volume of Essery’s history of Midland wagons includes such a vehicle, although it could have been passenger rated. However, there is no telegraphic code for such a vehicle listed in either the Passenger or Goods lists.

 

[Rescars]

Good point. Always liked Riccarton Junction!

Sadly I doubt there was ever such a thing as a blue lamp used as a headcode, but that would have been a bit special!

Again straying from your OT, IIRC a special train was run from Glasgow following the Quintinshill accident to convey medics as well as senior Caledonian management to the scene. A different way of dealing with a different type (and magnitude) of medical emergency.

 

[6Gman]

Hi All,

Came across a reference on Wikipedia to the Midland Railway keeping an 'ambulance wagon' at Toton to provide treatment for injured shunters, and wondered if anyone had any more info on this?

Interested in Toton or any other UK location (outside the works like Derby or Crewe, which had their own facilities).

Thanks!

Mike

The Midland Railway Study Centre online describes it as a goods brake van adapted for ambulance use (presumably wide doors and stretcher space) which was stabled at Toton. If needed a loco would be released from other duties and the casualty would be taken to Nottingham for treatment.

Never heard mention of other examples.

 

[Gloster]

Plate 391 of Volume II of Essery’s books is of it; it was built in 1895. It looks like a standard short four-wheel brake van of the era, even having the frames for train control lettering on the sides, but has double side-doors. The only lettering is just a couple of words writ very small (circa 1” high) and they may just be chalk marks. No number is visible or known.

 

[RWLDproject]

I would agree: neither volume of Essery’s history of Midland wagons includes such a vehicle, although it could have been passenger rated. However, there is no telegraphic code for such a vehicle listed in either the Passenger or Goods lists.

Thank you!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2023 ==

Sadly I doubt there was ever such a thing as a blue lamp used as a headcode, but that would have been a bit special!

Again straying from your OT, IIRC a special train was run from Glasgow following the Quintinshill accident to convey medics as well as senior Caledonian management to the scene. A different way of dealing with a different type (and magnitude) of medical emergency.

Re your comment on Quintinshill and the special train, that's timely today, as with the 75th anniversary of the NHS we've been thinking about what happened to railway workers in the event of an accident which required removal to hospital. Sure we've seen cases of workers being carried on trains if distance was involved - either an existing service stopped to convey the injured person or (presumably rarely, given the scheduling challenges) a special put on. Would love to know more though!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2023 ==

The Midland Railway Study Centre online describes it as a goods brake van adapted for ambulance use (presumably wide doors and stretcher space) which was stabled at Toton. If needed a loco would be released from other duties and the casualty would be taken to Nottingham for treatment.

Never heard mention of other examples.

Thanks - just had a quick search of their site but couldn't find this; that'll be my ineptitude, but if you'd be ok to point me/ us in the right direction, that would be great: thank you!

 

[6Gman]

Thank you!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2023 ==


Re your comment on Quintinshill and the special train, that's timely today, as with the 75th anniversary of the NHS we've been thinking about what happened to railway workers in the event of an accident which required removal to hospital. Sure we've seen cases of workers being carried on trains if distance was involved - either an existing service stopped to convey the injured person or (presumably rarely, given the scheduling challenges) a special put on. Would love to know more though!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2023 ==


Thanks - just had a quick search of their site but couldn't find this; that'll be my ineptitude, but if you'd be ok to point me/ us in the right direction, that would be great: thank you!

Try

www.midlandrailwaystudycentre.org.uk/info01.htm

Reference is in the 4th paragraph

 

[RWLDproject]

Try

www.midlandrailwaystudycentre.org.uk/info01.htm

Reference is in the 4th paragraph

Thank you, that's brilliant! Much appreciated.