Some more deaths of stationmasters......
Barton Stationmaster Killed by Wagon.
....While watching shunting operations on sidings at Barton station this morning, the stationmaster, Frank Richards, fell in front of an acid tank wagon and was killed. One of the shunting gang, Charles William Dalton, of New Holland, told the Hull Daily Mail, "I was standing about 15yds. from Mr Richards as the loose wagon, after being shunted, was moving slowly down the siding."
....Richards made as if to cross the permanent way in front of the wagon, seemed to trip over the near rail, and fell face downwards across the lines in front of the wagon, which ran over him."
....Dalton added that Mr Richards was always telling shunters to be careful and never cross the line in front of a moving wagon.
....Mr Richards was dead when Dr T. H. Kirk arrived and an inquest will be conducted tomorrow by the Coroner, Mr H. A. Howden. Mr Richards, who was about 50 years of age, had been stationmaster at Barton for about three years, succeeding the late Mr F. Chambers.
Hull Daily Mail, Tuesday, 28 November 1950
Find a Grave memorial for Frank Herbert Richards born 17 Apr 1900 and died 28 Nov 1950. Buried at Barton-Upon-Humber Cemetery, Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire Unitary Authority, Lincolnshire, England, Europe
www.findagrave.com
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TWO KILLED ON LINE.
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STATION-MASTER AND PORTER KNOCKED DOWN BY EXPRESS.
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....A double fatality occurred on Monday night on the London and South-Western Railway, near Weybridge, the victims being Mr Wiltshire, the stationmaster at Weybridge, and Mr Phillips, the head porter.
....It was Mr Wiltshire's day off, but an engine of a goods train gave trouble, and he was called to the station.
....As he and Phillips were walking towards the engine they failed to hear the approach of a down express—owing, it is presumed, to the noise made by the disabled locomotive—and both were knocked down.
....The stationmaster was killed outright, his mangled body being picked up over 100 yards away, while the porter died on the way to hospital.
Western Daily Press, Wednesday, 17 November 1920
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STATIONMASTER KILLED AT CHEVINGTON.
....Yesterday morning a shocking accident occurred at Chevington Railway Station, Northumberland, by which the stationmaster, Mr John Hammond was killed. As the fast train from Alnwick was approaching the station, shortly before nine o'clock, Mr Hammond hastily left the booking office, and was in the act of crossing for the purpose of reaching the opposite platform, when, unperceived by him, the Amble train being shunted in, the consequence being that he was knocked down and killed on the spot. The body on being picked up was found to have been frightfully mangled. The deceased, who was a married man, had been stationmaster at Chevington for a number of years, and was greatly respected. It will be remembered that, not long ago, a serious collision took place at the same station, which is at the point where two branch lines meet.
Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday, 19 November 1887
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SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A STATIONMASTER KILLED.
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....On Tuesday evening, a distressing accident took place at the Sawley branch of the Midland Railway, which is about six miles from Derby, resulting in the death of Mr. Thomas Turner, the station-master there. The facts of the melancholy affair are as follow :—On the above evening, Mr. Turner was seen to cross the line at the Sawley station, for the purpose of altering the semaphore telegraph, on the approach of a passenger train ; and having arranged the signals, he was retracing his steps, when another train came up, and the unfortunate man was struck with considerable violence by the engine, and hurled with great force into the middle of the rails. Some people who were on the spot immediately rushed to his assistance, and medical aid was, with, all possible despatch procured ; but it was found that he was quite dead when picked up ; consequently every effort was unavailing. Being the station-master, and supposed to be acquainted with the time at which all trains were due at that point of the line, it at first appeared rather remarkable that the deceased should have exposed himself to such danger ; but upon inquiry it turned out that the train which knocked him down was a goods one, and not due at any particular moment. The unfortunate man was struck in the side with so much violence that death was instantaneous. He was respected in the neighbourhood, and the shocking affair has caused considerable sensation.
The York Herald, Saturday, 25 September 1858
