I think this could be the collision at Thirsk in 1892.
The unfortunate James Holmes, signalman at Manor House between Northallerton and Thirsk, had had no sleep as he'd tramped the fields looking for a doctor to tend his seriously sick child, who sadly died. He asked Thomas Kirby, stationmaster at Otterington, to find him a relief, but one was not available. Out of a misguided sense of duty, he turned-up for his shift, and at about 3.30am, the second part of the Scotch Express ploughed into a goods train standing in his section.