Details of the Fatal Accident
| Place | Harrow and Wealdstone, Middlesex, England |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday 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 (having just been switched from the up slow 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 semaphore stop signals in the fog. Despite the efforts of the signalman, the two trains that had collided were then hit by the London to Liverpool Express (double-headed with locomotives 46202 Princess Anne and 45637 Windward Isles). Thirty-five of the fatalities were railwaymen. Ten of the fatalities later died of their injuries. |
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| BLAKE | Reginald Stanley | 51 | Hartford Avenue, Kenton, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 308 | ||
| BLUNDELL | H. | Woodcroft Avenue, Stanmore, MDX | ||||
| BLUNDELL | Unknown | Grasmere Gardens, Harrow, MDX | ||||
| 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 | ||
| BURGESS | Walter Frederick | 54 | Duke's Avenue, Wealdstone, MDX | Died of injuries | 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 | |
| BURTON | Polly | 60 | Pinconin, MI | Married | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 409 | |
| CHEETHAM | Alice | 45 | c/o Gaphurst Railway Station, Wigan, LAN | Married. | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 409 | |
| CHRISTOPHER | George Michael | Leggatt's Way, Watford, HRT | ||||
| CLARKE | George | Ridge Lane, Watford, HRT | ||||
| CLOUGH | Edwin Milton | 33 | Longley Road, Harrow, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 409 | ||
| COLBURN | F. | Abercorn Road, Stanmore, MDX | ||||
| COLE | Reginald Douglas | 46 | Colindale Drive, Stanmore, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 410 | ||
| 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 | ||
| CROW | John Norman | 25 | Lyonmeade, Stanmore, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 411 | ||
| CUBB | J.W. | Beaconsfield Road, Tring, HRT | ||||
| CULVERHOUSE | Raymond Henry | 21 | St. Albans Road, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 411 | ||
| DENTIN | Sapper (R.E.) | , | Attached to R.E. Elgin | |||
| DERBYSHIRE | Henry Walter | 53 | Harebreak, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 411 | ||
| 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 | ||
| EDGE | Norah Lomax | 32 | Kingswood Road, Garston, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | ||
| ELLINGTON | Geoffrey David | 18 | Sapper (Army) | West Avenue, Romsey, HAM | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | |
| EMERY | William Frederick | 48 | Bradshaw Road, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | ||
| FARRINGTON | S. | Mountbell Road, Stanmore, MDX | ||||
| FARRINGTON | Unknown (male) | Lyngarth Grove, Harrow, MDX | ||||
| GLOVER | John | Roughdown Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, HRT | ||||
| GRANT | Thomas Frederick | 57 | Ford Road, Bermondsey, London S.E., SRY | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | ||
| HARDCASTLE | M. F. | Tenby Avenue, Kenton, MDX | ||||
| HARDY | J.W. | Perth Street, Lancaster, LAN | Husband of Louisa Hardy | |||
| HARDY | Louisa | 36 | Perth Street, Lancaster, LAN | Wife of J.W Hardy | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 412 | |
| HARGREAVES | Alan | Devonshire Road, Bolton, LAN | ||||
| HEARD | Ann | Dover Way, Croxley Green, Watford, HRT | ||||
| HILTON | Morris Harold | 16 | Milton Street, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 413 | ||
| HOLLAND | George Edward | East Dulwich Grove, Camberwell, SRY | ||||
| HOPKINSON | , | |||||
| JEFFERSON | Herbert James | 57 | Railway worker? | , | In possession of a railway pass between Wealdstone and Euston | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 413 |
| JONES | Robert Stanley | 43 | Train driver | Ford Lane, Crewe, CHS | Of the Perth-London sleeper train. Based in Crewe. | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 414 |
| KEATING | Audrey | 12 Victoria Road, Watford, MDX | ||||
| 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 | |||
| LAW | Edith Eleanor | 47 | Tattenham Way, Tadworth nr Epsom, SRY | Married | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 414 | |
| LAWRENCE | Rosetta | 56 | C/o Stowe Road, Cippenham, BKM | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 414 | ||
| LEDGER | William | The Lawns, Hatch End, MDX | ||||
| MASTERS | John Michael | 18 | National Service | Westerham, KEN | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 415 | |
| MEACHAM | S.A. | Oak Drive Road, Watford, HRT | ||||
| MELDRUM | Sapper (Army) | , | No. 33789096 | |||
| MORCON | W. E. | Sapper (Army) | Broomhall Grove, Acocks Green, Birmingham, WAR | |||
| 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 | ||
| NASH | Weban | Ridge Lane, Watford, HRT | ||||
| NASH | William | 43 | , | Amateur railway photographer. | ||
| NELSON | A.V. | Fairway, North New Ferry, CHS | ||||
| NEWLYN | John William | 18 | R.A.F | Alberta Street, London S.E., SRY | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 416 | |
| PARKINSON | Peter | Walton Drive, Wealdstone, HRT | ||||
| PASKINS | Betty Irene | 20 | Herga Road, Wealdstone, MDX | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 416 | ||
| PERKINS | Albert | 53 | Railway driver | Chatterton Road, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, CHS | Driver of the Euston to Liverpool express | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 416 |
| PINE | Leslie | 20 | Liverpool Road, Watford, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 416 | ||
| PITMAN | John George | Hermitage Way, Stanmore, MDX | ||||
| 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 | ||
| PROCTOR | Mary Doris | 53 | Lord Street, Brierfield, nr Nelson, LAN | |||
| QUAYLE | George | 24 | Sharp Street, Askam-in-Furness, LAN | 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 |
| RODWELL | Alan James | 17 | , | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 418 | ||
| ROFF | Charles H. | 47 | Coast Raod, West Mercia, Colchester, ESS | Died of injuries | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 485 | |
| 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 | |
| SMITH | Jean | Balmoral Road, Watford, HRT | Unmarried | |||
| STRETCH | Brenda Marion | 23 | 23, West Avenue, Ramsey, HUN | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 420 | ||
| SWAINE | Agnes | 61 | Torrence, Flint, Michigan, USA | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 421 | ||
| TAVERNER | F.C. | Church Street, Berkhamstead, HRT | ||||
| TAYLOR | Kathleen Gertrude | 48 | Bruce Grove, Watford, HRT | Married | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 421 | |
| 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 | ||
| TURNOCK | Colin | 23 | Railway fireman | Crewe, CHS | Of the Perth express | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 421 |
| UNKNOWN | 65 - 70 | , | Unidentified | |||
| WALTER | Hilda Mary | 54 | Meadow Way, North Harrow, MDX | Married | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 422 | |
| 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 | ||
| WHITEHEAD | Norman H. | Berkhamstead, HRT | ||||
| WHITFIELD | Trevor Henry | 22 | Belmont Road, Hemel Hempstead, HRT | 1952/Dec Harrow 5F 422 | ||
| WILLIAMS | Herbert | Finchley, MDX | Died of injuries | |||
| WILSON | W. Harvey | , LAN | ||||
| WOODALL | D. G. | U.S.A.F., H259 Maintenance G.P. Dept | , | Husband of Jean WOODALL | ||
| WOODALL | Jean | , | Wife of D.G. WOODALL |