Details of the Fatal Accident

Place Oakley Junction nr Bedford , Bedfordshire, England
Date Friday 21st January 1938, 3.02 pm
Railway Company London, Midland & Scottish Railway
No. of Fatalities 3
Cause of Accident Error by signaller
Description The 2.10 pm. express passenger train from London St. Pancras to Bradford ran past the junction signals at danger and was diverted from the main line to the down line of the Northampton branch, where it collided, head-on, with a stationary engine of an empty carriage train.

Sources/Further Reading

  • The Bedfordshire Times, 28th January 1938 (bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk)
  • The Times, 22nd January 1938
  • The Times, 28th January 1938
  • Yorkshire Post, 25th January 1938

List of Fatalities

The 3 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
ALLENSBYCharles Reed56Director of a firm of kitchen and heating engineers.Hertford Avenue, East Sheen, SRYDied of injuries.1938/Mar Bedford 3b 361
GRAINGEHenry A.62Restaurant car cookVincent Road, Sheffield, WRYDied of injuries 23rd January.1938/MAR Bedford 3b 361
JONESAlbert William51Worked for Boots the chemistsCarlyle Road, West Bridgford, NTTLeft a widow and four children. A native of Taunton SOM1938/Mar Bedford 3b 362