8600904lan
Details of the Railway Fatal Accident
| Location | Helmshore, Lancashire, England |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, 4th September 1860, p.m. |
| Railway Company | Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway |
| No. of fatalities | 11 |
| Cause of accident | Broken coupling |
| Description | A train arrived at the station and because of the large number of carriages, the coupling broke, fifteen carriages broke loose from the train. The empty carriages ran backwards down a steep incline, colliding with the following packed excursion train. |
Sources/Further Reading
- https://youtu.be/9n4yiOZVUoA?si=gReF5EJvpDZPJ7Mm
- Lancashire Family History And Heraldry Society, Rossendale Branch Newsletter, February 2002
- The Times, 10th Sep 1860 (report of inquest)
- The Times, 11th Sep 1860 (further report of inquest)
- The Times, 5th Sep 1860
- The Times, 6th Sep 1860 (list of dead and wounded with details of injuries)
List of Fatalities
11 of the 11 fatalities have been identified so far. They are listed in the table below together with brief notes on any other information that has been found.
The last column shows the General Register Office (England and Wales), Statutory Register (Scotland), General Register Northern Ireland or Civil Registration for Ireland reference where this has been identified (this reference can be used to order a copy of the official death certificate).
| Surname | First Name | Age | Occupation | Residence | Notes | GRO/SR/GRONI/GROIE Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLYTHE | Thomas | 24 | Weaver | Colne | 1860/Sep Haslingden 8e 79 | |
| DUCKWORTH | Samuel | 50 | Labourer | Ewood Bridge | 1860/Sep Haslingden 08E 79 | |
| FELL | Mary | 19 | Barrowford | 1860/Sep Haslingden 8e 80 | ||
| HARRISON | Starkie | 21 | Tailor | Barrowford | 1860/Sep Haslingden 8e 79 | |
| HARTLEY | Alice | 24 | Burnley | 1860/Sep Haslingden 8e 80 | ||
| HARTLEY | John | 21 | Labourer at Oak Printworks | Accrington | 1860/Sep Haslingden 8e 79 | |
| HEAP | Richard | 25 | Mechanic | Bridge-end, Colne | Married with five children. | 1860/Sep Haslingden 8e 79 |
| HEYS | Mary | 51 | Maugholds, Haslingden | 1860/Sep Haslingden 08E 79 | ||
| HINDLE | Isabella | 22 | Baxenden | Wife of a collier. | 1860/Sep Haslingden 8e 80 | |
| LOFTHOUSE | Thomas | 64 | Spinner | Hancoats | 1860/Sep Haslingden 8e 79 | |
| TATTERSALL | Alice | 54 | Weaver | Burnley | 1860/Sep Haslingden 8e 67 |