Tony Whittaker
Member
- Joined
- 9 Nov 2017
- Messages
- 73
I have been researching the story of a double crash and double runaway between Dove Holes and New Mills in September 1867. A runaway cattle train hit a Manchester to Buxton non-stop express at New Mills. Happily, this had been halted by a timely message to New Mills Goods box from Bugsworth box. The express train was halted, and indeed set in reverse by the driver, protecting all the passengers from what could have been a vastly worse outcome. My question is:
The key signaller who got the message through to New Mills, with perhaps seconds to spare, was in Bugsworth signalbox. I'm looking at he old maps, and there appears to have never been a signalbox next to Bugsworth Station. Indeed, there would have been little reason to have one, as there was no pointwork.
But until there were four tracks with a crossover, there would have been no need for the later box called Bugsworth South Junction, on the Manchester side of the big cutting, ex tunnel, and I can't see one there on any map before the four tracks were built.
But there is a signalbox on older maps at the junction to the siding for Ladypit Coal Mine, as there was pointwork to control there. So I am thinking this must be the box referred to as Bugsworth in the report, and the one that got the message through to New Mills. This makes the getting a warning through in time even more time critical. The signaller had to use the slow 'speaking telegraph' to send a runaway alert to New Mills box which was only a mile away. The runaway would take little more than a minute to reach New Mills Goods box. There is nothing in the record I have found yet, to indicate that Bugsworth had prior warning, ie from Chinley, but this may be the case. But I'd certainly like to pinpoint this box, indeed find a photo of it too.
Likewise the box where a grievous error started the series of tragic events was Peak Forest. Back in 1867, with far less trackwork or limestone facilities, there would have been only one box, likely on or very near the station. Can anyone confirm this?
And even c1900 map of Chapel Station shows the signalbox south of the station, and not on the platform as later happened. Anyone know when this change happened?
Grateful thanks. Anyone is welcome to my writeup.
The key signaller who got the message through to New Mills, with perhaps seconds to spare, was in Bugsworth signalbox. I'm looking at he old maps, and there appears to have never been a signalbox next to Bugsworth Station. Indeed, there would have been little reason to have one, as there was no pointwork.
But until there were four tracks with a crossover, there would have been no need for the later box called Bugsworth South Junction, on the Manchester side of the big cutting, ex tunnel, and I can't see one there on any map before the four tracks were built.
But there is a signalbox on older maps at the junction to the siding for Ladypit Coal Mine, as there was pointwork to control there. So I am thinking this must be the box referred to as Bugsworth in the report, and the one that got the message through to New Mills. This makes the getting a warning through in time even more time critical. The signaller had to use the slow 'speaking telegraph' to send a runaway alert to New Mills box which was only a mile away. The runaway would take little more than a minute to reach New Mills Goods box. There is nothing in the record I have found yet, to indicate that Bugsworth had prior warning, ie from Chinley, but this may be the case. But I'd certainly like to pinpoint this box, indeed find a photo of it too.
Likewise the box where a grievous error started the series of tragic events was Peak Forest. Back in 1867, with far less trackwork or limestone facilities, there would have been only one box, likely on or very near the station. Can anyone confirm this?
And even c1900 map of Chapel Station shows the signalbox south of the station, and not on the platform as later happened. Anyone know when this change happened?
Grateful thanks. Anyone is welcome to my writeup.
