Details of the Fatal Accident

Place Barkston nr Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
Date Sunday 19th January 1936
Railway Company London & North Eastern Railway
No. of Fatalities 8
Cause of Accident Collision
Description There was a collision between two light engines coupled together which were travelling from Peterborough to York, and a ballast train which was conveying a relaying gang from Grantham to Newark. The rear brake van of the ballast train and five wagons immediately ahead of it were completely demolished. Eight platelayers were killed and four other platelayers were injured. The Grantham Journal source has photographs of seven of the fatalities.

Sources/Further Reading

  • Gloucestershire Echo, Monday 20 January 1936
  • Official Accident Report, Saturday 22nd February 1936 (www.railwaysarchive.co.uk)
  • The Grantham Journal, Saturday 25 January 1936
  • The Nottingham Evening Post, Wednesday 22 January 1936 (details of funerals)

List of Fatalities

The 8 fatalities are listed in the table below together with brief notes of any other information found so far.

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.

Surname First Names Age Occupation Residence Notes GRO/SR/GRONI/GROIE Reference
AVERYMaurice54Railway platelayerCouncil Houses, Great Gonerby, LINMarried. Died later of injuries.1936/Jun Grantham 7a 490
BARNETTArthur44Railway platelayerCouncil Houses, Grantham, LINMarried. Formerly Royal Navy?1936/Jun Grantham 7a 489
BONNERGeorge W.48Railway platelayer107 Stamford Street, Grantham, LINMarried. Died later of injuries.1936/Jun Grantham 7a 491
COOPERCharles William52Railway platelayer84 Springfield Road, Grantham, LINMarried1936/Jun Grantham 7a 490
HARRISArthur58Railway platelayer51 Wharf Road, Grantham, LINMarried1936/Jun Grantham 7a 490
HUGHESWilliam36Railway platelayerNew Street, Grantham, LINMarried1936/Jun Grantham 7a 490
HUNTJohn William49Railway platelayer54 Stamford Street, Grantham, LINMarried1936/Jun Grantham 7a 490
WATSONAUGUSTINE WILLIAM JEFFERY55Railway timekeeper102 Springfield Road, Grantham, LINMarried. Died later of injuries.1936/Jun Grantham 7a 489