The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-30 00:00:00

THE 'LATE FATAL ACCIDENT
ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.
ADJOURNED INQUEST ON MR. HIND.
The Coroner's inqueEt on the body of Mr. Hind was-'re-
sumed on Tuesday morning, before the Deputy-Coroner fox
East Middlesex, and the same jury, at the Duke of Richmond
Tavern, Queen's-rO, Dalston.
Mr. G. Burford, a dfaper, of Stratford, was the first witness
called, and corroborated )4 statement hle made before the
magistrates at Ilford. He was on the Angel-lane Bridge,
near the Stratford station, aasew the signal lowered on the
passenger-train passing it.
- Edward Unwin, th:e youth employed at the station, and
who lowered the signal; also confirmed the testimony he gave
at the previous investigation. •
• George Blatchfcrd, the chief guard of the passenger tiain,
was next called. His evidence was also the same as that
given before the magistrates.
Mr. George William Brown said, he was formerly con-
nected with Mr. Jackson, a contractor to the Eastern Coun-
ties Railway Company. Clare was an engine-driver i>t his
employ, and, speaking from recollection, was in the habit of
driving their goods train eneine for five or six months front
Shoreditch Mr. Jack-
son dispoai He con-
sidered Clat 'pante of repair-
ing his eni employed at
Shoreditcl' were the
same as tl appeared to °
understanc, 3w hint to
pass one.
Joshua IN ;Inspector
of railways, ?Lain of the •
Royal EI 1 gil directions from
the Railway ?, inspected
the scene of item Countim,
Railway, on particular-4J
object was (' as tO, as-
certain its public, And
to try by ea an engine-
driver, on p that point
and the stal e identical
engine and comprised the •
train driven five empty
trucks, and three ex-
periments v far as ll-
ford, when I directed
the engine-d• -ter going
about a nil' of about
twenty-five , without •
previous wi ~ stop noticed the
point on which I gave the order; Atter the engine and
train had stopped I Measured the distance to the point F
gave the order, and found it to be 445 yards. It was done
by the action of the break, and without the reversing of the
engine. I then get on it and again proceeded towards Strat-
fold, and on Nixing opposite to a man who had been placed
there with a red flag in his band, I desired the engine, s
driver again to stop. We—Wde then goinv, about thirty
miles an hour, and the engine was stopped in 468 yards by
break alone. I then turned the train to Ilford, and started
for Stratford again. I allowed the train to proceed at a very
rapid rate, exceeding thirty miles an hour. The last half
mile was performed in fifty-eight seconds, and continued at
that speed until I observed the Stratford signal. I then. told
the driver to shut oil' the steam, and the break was imme-
diately applied. Fifty yards further the engine was reversed,
and the train, with the engine, came to a stand-still under
the bridge nearest the station.
Juror—Did you measure the distance from the station?
Captain Cadrington—l did not, but it was about 10 or. 12.
yards. I should observe that the rails were very wet, a heavy
shower of rain had just fallen, and we were going at a very
rapid rate.

-CORONER—And what did the result of those experiments
show ?

Captain Coddington—The result of the experiments showed
that it was quite possible for the engine and train to hwvebeert
stopped, cn the signal being seen, before it could reach the
station.

CORONER—Have you any observation to offer to the jury
respecting the construction of the signal?
Captain Coddington—l have examined the records for
the last five years at the Board of Trade, and cannot find
any accident having occurred from a defect of the signal,
or not being understood. The Colchester line is the only
one, I believe, that has adopted such a description of
signal.
CORONER—It has been stated that the curve at this parti-
cular part of the line prevents the signal and station being
seen so distant as might be desired.
Captain Coddington—lt certainly is an unfavourable
place; but, notwithstanding the disadvantages of the curve
of the portion of the line alluded to, I am of opinion that the
signal properly worked and attenied to is sufficient for the
public security. The line is a moderate inclination from
Brentwood ; but on approaching within 181 A chairs of
Stratford it rises at the ratio of 1 foot in 330. That .rile
would tend to facilitate the stopping of a train.
By Mr. Duncan—lf the rails were dry, it is probable that
the train could have been sooner stopped. I could not pos-
sibly say in what distance a train travelling at fifteen miles
an hour could ; the slower they are going the sooner they
are to be stopped. The break was a powerful one, and lir
good order; and I think that an ordinary party could have
slapped the train on seeing the signal as well as I could. I
inspected the signal. It was pulled up and down before me,
and appeared to work well.
Cross examined by Mr. Ilawraslcs—An engine-driver, on
perceiving the signal, would have the same facilities faz
stopping as I had. I made the experiment for the express
purpose of seeing the signal. I was on the look out for it..
It would certainly make a difference to an engine-driver un-
acquainted with the line, but they are particularly bound to
attend to signals. It would be desirable for a.driver on first
going on the line to be accompanied by a person having a
knowledge of it. It is usual to have breaks with goods
trains, but I cannot say that it was imperative to have one•
on such a train as led to the occurrence—at least on such a
train as I made the experitnent. 1 noticed a station between
Ilford and Stratford, and think it very necessary that there
should be signals at stations where passenger trains stop. It
depends upon the amount of work whether one man should
act as signal-man and point-man. I have seen horse-boxes
in all parts of a train—in the front. middle, and rear. If
break had been applied at the last carriage, it would have
much assisted in stopping the train.
In answer to Mr. Hare, a gentleman who appeared to
watch the proceedings on behalf of the relatives of the de-
ceased, Captain Coddington thought it very desirable that
persons should undergo a rigid examination to qualify them
for e n newelriticae ne
Ilk a person blind with one
from working as au engine-
I's examination, the,Cnioner

...,~

By the CORONER—I do not tl
eye is necessarily incapacitated

ana )Ltiy tliaul.fn IiitTRZZIMP
plicatiou to the Board of Trade.
Thomas Nicholson, the under .foreman in the locomen-ye. -
department, ono of the parties who were given into custody,
and discharged by the Ilford magistrates, was sworn—Was
on the Firefly engine attached to the truck train. It
stopped at Ilford, on its way from Romford, six or sevea
minutes. Just as it came to a stand-still the Ipswich pas-
senger train proceeded. On re-starting and nearing Strat-
ford he did not see the signal until the engine was under
it, and on looking forward saw the passenger train stopping
at the station. Clare instantly blew his whistle, and re-
versed the engine. The breaks were applied at the same
moment.

~~

By the CORONER—CouId not account for not seeing the
signal before they got under it. There was no larking on
the engine.

Johii Tomlinson, the smith, who rode on the engine from
the Romford works, nest deposed to the same facts ash e gave
at the inquiry at Ilford. He saw the signal down at Strat-
ford when the engine came up to it. The whistle was sawnded
at the same time.

Other evidence was then adduced, but the principal facts
elicited have been already before our readers.
It being now half-past ten o'clock, the jury determined on
adjourning the inquiry until this morning at ten o'clock,
when the Coroner would immediately proceed to mar up the
evidence, and the jury determine on their verdict.

i to -Stortford; in fact, up to the time of
ing of his contract with the company.
are to be a competent driver, and capable
ngine. At that period the .signals em
1, Mile-end, and the Cambridge Junction
ie present one at Stratford, and Clare ar
I them perfectly evel)::jle never kne
rirm. Coddington, the Deputy Government
was then examined—l am a capti
gineers, and in en.mpliauce with direc
iy Department of the Board of Trade,
the - recent accident on the Eastern
n the 20th and 21st instant. My first
directed to the signal at Strattbrd, so
efficiency for the protection of the p
xperiments whether it was possible for
mrceiving it, to stop a train between t
tion. For this 'purpose I obtained the
trucks, with the same load that corm
i into the passenger one. There were fi
two loaded witli iron. I then made
vith the train, 'and first proceeded as
it was shifted on to the up rails, and I
-driver to go on to Stratford. Aft
le and a half, and obtaining a speed
miles an hour, I directed the driver,
rattling, to stop the train, and not