The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-21 00:00:00

SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT THE STAMBER
MILL VIADUCT.

An accident, which created alarm in the neighbour-
hood, occurred about one o'clock on Sunday morning,
at the Slumber Mill railway viaduct, at Stourbridge,
rhe structure is a wooden one of considerable length
and height. A terrific crash was heard in the dead of
night by people living in the neighbourhood, and it
w..:s feared a dvradful accident had taken place. Many
persons who had been disturbed by the noise dressed
themselves and hastened to the spot, where the wreck
of a train could be seen some SO feet below the summit
of the viaduct. The first enquiries were whether any
one was killed or hurt, and happily it was found that the
accident had only resulted in darn ie to propeity. On
each side of the breach in the railing of the viaduct was
part of a luggage train, and down below was the
remainder smashed to pieces by the great distance the
trucks had follen. It appears that theitrain which had
met with the accident was a luggage which follows the
10 15 p.m. passenger train from Dudley. Owing to
shunting work on the road it was nearly one o'clock
when it was running down the Amblecote incline towards
the viaduct. A. coupling broke, and this caused the
front part to get some distance ahead of .the rear of the
train, which was of considerable length. As the driver
was nearing the viaduct he is said to have slackened
spied as usual, and the detached trucks ran into him
with great violence. The trucks mounted the engine,
but this seems to have shot on. and some distance along
the viaduct the fore part of the train was altogether
dislocated, and the trucks were scattered here and there
eight of them being jerked over the side of the viaduct,
splitting through one of the massive beams of timber
as they fell. The driver, stoker, and guard were shaken
by the collision, but escaped without hurt. A number
of railway men were collected together as soon as
possible and set to work to clear the road, both lines
being bl'cked. The up metals were put out of gauge
by the accident, and a number of transomes broken ,
but there was no great difficulty in getting these
matters put right, and the overturned trucks being I
lifted, both up and down roads were in working order
before daybreak. The safety ithe viada,t is in no way
disturbed, but the apprehensions so often expressed
regarding the structure will not be likely to be diminished
by such an accident, which had it befallen a passenger
train must have had most frightful results. It has
always been understood the viaduct will be filled up
eventually, and this occurrence will probably tend to
some pressure being put on the Great Western Railway
Company to commence the work.
We understand that the subject of the Stamber Mill
viaduct will be under the consideration of the Stour.
bridge Improvement Commissioners at their next meet-
ing. It is said that the viaduct has never been examined
by the Board of Trade since the line was opened, about
twenty-live or twenty-six years ago, but in 1873, when
some correspondence took place with the Great Western
Board, assurances were given to the Commissioners by
thg directors that the structure was perfectly safe.
This notwithstanding, the feeling has long existed that
he viaduct ought to be filled up, and this will no doubt
find expression in representations to the Great Western*
dire,tors, and probably to the Board of Trade as well.
The length of the railing broken away by the falling
trucks on Sanday, is 79 feet, and the actual distance
they fell is said to be 73 feet. Vast numbers of people
have been to visit the spot, exaggerated rumours of the
accident having circulated in the neighbourhood.