Details of the Accident
| Place | Harrow and Wealdstone |
| Date | 8th October 1952, 8.20 a.m. |
| Railway Company | British Railways (London Midland Region) |
| No. of Fatalities | 112 |
| Cause of Accident | Collision |
| Description | A local train from Tring to London Euston was standing on the up fast platform line, when it was hit by the Perth to London Sleeper (locomotive 46242 City of Glasgow), this train having run past a warning distant and two stop signals in the fog. Despite the efforts of the signalman, the collided trains where then hit by the London to Liverpool Express (locomotive 46202 Princess Anne). Thirty five of the fatalities were railwaymen. Ten of the fatalities died of their injuries later. |
Sources/Further Reading
- Aberdeen Evening Express, 14th October 1952
- British Railways Magazine, November 1952
- Red for Danger by L.T.C. Rolt (Sutton Publishing 1955)
- Steam World magazine, October 1995
- The Harrow Railway Disaster 1952 by L F E.Coombs (David & Charles, 1984)
- The Railway Gazette, 10th October 1952
- The Railway Gazette, 17th October 1952
- The Railway Gazette, 24th October 1952
- The Railway Gazette, 31st October 1952
- The Railway Magazine, December 1952
- The Railway World, November 1952
- Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 14th October 1952
List of Fatalities
107 of the 112 fatalities that have been identifed so far are listed in the table below together with brief notes on any other information found
The last column shows the General Register Office (England and Wales) or Statutory Register (Scotland) reference where this has been identified.
| Surname | First Names | Age | Occupation | Residence | Notes | GRO/SR Reference | |||||||
| BURGESS | Walter Frederick | 54 | Duke's Avenue, Wealdstone, MDX | Died of injuries | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 408 | ||||||||
| HARDY | Louisa | 36 | Perth Street, Lancaster, LAN | Wife of J.W Hardy | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | ||||||||
| JONES | Robert Stanley | 43 | Train driver | Ford Lane, Crewe, CHS | Of the Perth-London sleeper train. Based in Crewe. | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 414 | |||||||
| NASH | William | 43 | , | Amateur railway photographer. | |||||||||
| BEATTIE | John McCann | 18 | , | Son of J. Beattie, Powfoot Street, Glasgow | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 407 | ||||||||
| BENJAFIELD | Albert Ernest | 19 | L.A.C. (R.A.F) | Winchester Road, Edmonton, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 408 | ||||||||
| BENTLEY | Clifford Maurice | 18 | Sapper (R.E.) | , | Next of kin, Alfred Street, Bloxwich, STS | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 408 | |||||||
| BENTON | Donald William | 18 | Elgin, MOR | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 408 | |||||||||
| BRIERS | Janice Ellen Georgina | 15 | Summerfield Road, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 408 | |||||||||
| BROOKS | Herbert Noel | 22 | Copse Close, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 408 | |||||||||
| BURTON | Charles Harry | 33 | Sevington Road, Hendon, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 409 | |||||||||
| BURTON | Henry | 45 | Q.C. | Kensington Court, London W8, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 409 | ||||||||
| CHEETHAM | Alice | 45 | c/o Gaphurst Railway Station, Wigan, LAN | Married. | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 409 | ||||||||
| CLARKE | George | Ridge Lane, Watford, HRT | |||||||||||
| CLOUGH | Edwin Milton | 33 | Longley Road, Harrow, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 409 | |||||||||
| COLE | Reginald Douglas | 46 | Colindale Drive, Stanmore, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 410 | |||||||||
| KEATING | Audrey | 12 Victoria Road, Watford, MDX | |||||||||||
| COSIER | Ronald Charles | 54 | Beaconsfield Road, Tring, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 410 | |||||||||
| CROCKER | John William | 20 | Ridge Lane, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 410 | |||||||||
| CULVERHOUSE | Raymond Henry | 21 | St. Albans Road, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 411 | |||||||||
| DENTIN | Sapper (R.E.) | , | Attached to R.E. Elgin | ||||||||||
| DOBSON | Arnold Norman | 18 | Sapper (R.E.) | , | Attached to R.E. Knaresborough, WRY | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 411 | |||||||
| DOHERTY | Bartholomew Thomas | 58 | Tudor Avenue, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 411 | |||||||||
| ELLINGTON | Geoffrey David | 18 | Sapper (Army) | West Avenue, Romsey, HAM | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | ||||||||
| HARDY | J.W. | Perth Street, Lancaster, LAN | Husband of Louisa Hardy | ||||||||||
| HOPKINSON | , | ||||||||||||
| JEFFERSON | Herbert James | 57 | Railway worker? | , | In possession of a railway pass between Wealdstone and Euston | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 413 | |||||||
| KEMPSTER | James William Miles | 20 | Aircraft hand R.A.F. | , | Based Biggin Hill, KEN | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 414 | |||||||
| KEYNOR | James | R.E.M.E | Wentworth Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NBL | ||||||||||
| MASTERS | John Michael | 18 | National Service | Westerham, KEN | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 415 | ||||||||
| MELDRUM | Sapper (Army) | , | No. 33789096 | ||||||||||
| MUIR | James Myles | 41 | Dairsie, FIF | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 415 | |||||||||
| MULLINS | Peter | Village Way, Pinner, MDX | |||||||||||
| MURRAY | Francis William | 51 | Hartford Avenue, Kenton, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 415 | |||||||||
| FARRINGTON | Unknown (male) | Lyngarth Grove, Harrow, MDX | |||||||||||
| FARRINGTON | S. | Mountbell Road, Stanmore, MDX | |||||||||||
| GRANT | Thomas Frederick | 57 | Ford Road, Bermondsey, London S.E., SRY | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | |||||||||
| HARDCASTLE | M. F. | Tenby Avenue, Kenton, MDX | |||||||||||
| MORCON | W. E. | Sapper (Army) | Broomhall Grove, Acocks Green, Birmingham, WAR | ||||||||||
| HILTON | Morris Harold | 16 | Milton Street, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 413 | |||||||||
| NEWLYN | John William | 18 | R.A.F | Alberta Street, London S.E., SRY | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 416 | ||||||||
| PINE | Leslie | 20 | Liverpool Road, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 416 | |||||||||
| POULTNEY | Albert William | 51 | Drummond Drive, Stanmore, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 417 | |||||||||
| PRATT | David Edwin | 20 | Oakdene Road, Watford, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 417 | |||||||||
| PRESTON | Leslie Charles | 37 | Bushey Mill Lane, Bushey, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 417 | |||||||||
| REID | William | 44 | Kirkcaldy, FIF | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 418 | |||||||||
| RIDGEWAY | Ernest | 64 | Beechwood Rise, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 418 | |||||||||
| RILEY | Joseph | 22 | Sapper (Army) | , | No. 22014352. Next of kin aunt. Mrs A. Taylor, South Eldon Street, South Shields | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 418 | |||||||
| ROBINSON | John | 18 | Sapper (Army) | , | No. 22794751 | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 418 | |||||||
| ROGERS | John Ernest | 20 | Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 419 | |||||||||
| ROWLEY | Unknown | c55 | , | ||||||||||
| RUSSELL | Stanley James | 50 | Perivale Gardens, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 419 | |||||||||
| SABIN | Margaret Ann | 15 | 17 Devons Road, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 419 | |||||||||
| SAFE | William George | 18 | Herbert Road, Salisbury, WIL | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 419 | |||||||||
| SCHOFIELD | John | Weldon Avenue, Sunderland, DUR | |||||||||||
| SHELTON | Norman | 18 | Army? | Basinhall Road, Whittlesea, CAM | No. 2279513 | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 419 | |||||||
| SHEPHERD | John Leslie | 22 | Army | Bellingham, DUR | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 420 | ||||||||
| SIFTON | Maurice | Chief of British Railways' Midland Region research department | Kynaston Close, Harrow Weald, MDX | ||||||||||
| SLACK | Adam Guy Walter | 29 | Skirwith Hall, Penrith, CUL | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 420 | |||||||||
| SLATER | Gordon William | 19 | Sapper (Army) | Pensfield Camp, Elgin Molt Avenue, Spondon, Derby, DBY | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 420 | ||||||||
| TEBBENHAM | Henry George | 61 | Bonderwood Road, West Wickham, KEN | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 421 | |||||||||
| TURNER | Natalie Gabrielle | 22 | Common Lane, King's Langley, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 421 | |||||||||
| WATSON | Roy Thomas | 28 | Eaton Close, Stanmore, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 422 | |||||||||
| WEBSTER | William Edgar | 53 | Wemborough Road, Stanmore, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 422 | |||||||||
| WILSON | W. Harvey | , LAN | |||||||||||
| WHITFIELD | Trevor Henry | 22 | Belmont Road, Hemel Hempstead, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 422 | |||||||||
| WOODALL | D. G. | U.S.A.F., H259 Maintenance G.P. Dept | , | Husband of Jean WOODALL | |||||||||
| WOODALL | Jean | , | Wife of D.G. WOODALL | ||||||||||
| QUAYLE | George | 24 | Sharp Street, Askam-in-Furness, LAN | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 417 | |||||||||
| WALTER | Hilda Mary | 54 | Meadow Way, North Harrow, MDX | Married | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 422 | ||||||||
| SWAINE | Agnes | 61 | Torrence, Flint, Michigan, USA | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 421 | |||||||||
| NASH | Weban | Ridge Lane, Watford, HRT | |||||||||||
| MEACHAM | S.A. | Oak Drive Road, Watford, HRT | |||||||||||
| PARKINSON | Peter | Walton Drive, Wealdstone, HRT | |||||||||||
| PITMAN | John George | Hermitage Way, Stanmore, MDX | |||||||||||
| BURTON | Polly | 60 | Pinconin, MI | Married | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 409 | ||||||||
| BLAKE | Reginald Stanley | 51 | Hartford Avenue, Kenton, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 308 | |||||||||
| HOLLAND | George Edward | East Dulwich Grove, Camberwell, SRY | |||||||||||
| TURNOCK | Colin | 23 | Railway fireman | Crewe, CHS | Of the Perth express | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 421 | |||||||
| LEDGER | William | The Lawns, Hatch End, MDX | |||||||||||
| GLOVER | John | Roughdown Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, HRT | |||||||||||
| HARGREAVES | Alan | Devonshire Road, Bolton, LAN | |||||||||||
| SMITH | Jean | Balmoral Road, Watford, HRT | Unmarried | ||||||||||
| TAVERNER | F.C. | Church Street, Berkhamstead, HRT | |||||||||||
| WHITEHEAD | Norman H. | Berkhamstead, HRT | |||||||||||
| WILLIAMS | Herbert | Finchley, MDX | Died of injuries | ||||||||||
| HEARD | Ann | Dover Way, Croxley Green, Watford, HRT | |||||||||||
| NELSON | A.V. | Fairway, North New Ferry, CHS | |||||||||||
| DERBYSHIRE | Henry Walter | 53 | Harebreak, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 411 | |||||||||
| CROW | John Norman | 25 | Lyonmeade, Stanmore, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 411 | |||||||||
| CHRISTOPHER | George Michael | Leggatt's Way, Watford, HRT | |||||||||||
| CUBB | J.W. | Beaconsfield Road, Tring, HRT | |||||||||||
| PASKINS | Betty Irene | 20 | Herga Road, Wealdstone, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 416 | |||||||||
| COLBURN | F. | Abercorn Road, Stanmore, MDX | |||||||||||
| RODWELL | Alan James | 17 | , | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 418 | |||||||||
| PERKINS | Albert | 53 | Railway driver | Chatterton Road, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, CHS | Driver of the Euston to Manchester express | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 416 | |||||||
| STRETCH | Brenda Marion | 23 | 23, West Avenue, Ramsey, HUN | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 420 | |||||||||
| BLUNDELL | H. | Woodcroft Avenue, Stanmore, MDX | |||||||||||
| BLUNDELL | Unknown | Grasmere Gardens, Harrow, MDX | |||||||||||
| EMERY | William Frederick | 48 | Bradshaw Road, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | |||||||||
| LAWRENCE | Rosetta | 56 | C/o Stowe Road, Cippenham, BKM | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 414 | |||||||||
| TAYLOR | Kathleen Gertrude | 48 | Bruce Grove, Watford, HRT | Married | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 421 | ||||||||
| LAW | Edith Eleanor | 47 | Tattenham Way, Tadworth nr Epsom, SRY | Married | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 414 | ||||||||
| EDGE | Norah Lomax | 32 | Kingswood Road, Garston, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | |||||||||
| ROFF | Charles H. | 47 | Coast Raod, West Mercia, Colchester, ESS | Died of injuries | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 485 | ||||||||
| PROCTOR | Mary Doris | 53 | Lord Street, Brierfield, nr Nelson, LAN | ||||||||||
| N/K | 65 - 70 | , | Unidentified |