The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-11 00:00:00

and in a minute I saw it was upset. After my first
alarm I returned to the spot, and then saw a gentleman,
who, I have been informed, is Mr. Shuard, lying under
one of the carriages. The carriages themselves appeared
much shattered.
CORONER—What time do you suppose elapsed between
your feeling an unpleasant sensation in the carriages
and the period of the accident? Witness—l should say
about one minute; but I had felt that the carriages
were not running so easily as usual for five minutes be-
fore. I had not observed any bumping. On going to
Wolverhampton in the morning, I observed that the
rails at some portions of the line appeared to be very
rough and ragged at the edges, as if they had been
clipped. This was some few miles up the line ; but
whether six or eight miles I cannot say. It appeared
to me a dangerous thing, but I cannot say that it
was so.
By Mr. Carter—l have never seen similar appear-
ances of the rails on other lines. lam not aware that
laminating is common on railways. The violent rock-
ing :was only a minute or two before the accident. I
cannot say if it was such a sensation as would be caused
by the last carriage getting off the line.
By the Jury—lt appeared to me that the outside rails
were split as I have described. The extent of these
appearances might have been for about a quarter of
a mile.
The CORONER here remarked that, with the exception
of a gentleman named Powell, and the unfortunate gen-
tleman, Mr. Shuard, he believed all the passenger evi-
dence Was finished. Mr. Shuard was lying in an upstairs
apartment of that hotel, and he would, in the course of
the next half-hour, endeavour to ascertain the nature of
the evidence he was likely to give. If it was very impor-
tant, and the jury felt strongly the necessity of having it
before them, they would have to proceed to the apart-
ment of the unfortunate gentleman. Considering, how-
ever, the violent nature of the injuries he had sustained,
it might be deemed advisable not to disturb him. He
should like to be informed what was the nature of the
injuries.
Mr. Robinson, the Birmingham station-master, re-
plied Mr. Shuard's thigh was broken, that it had been
set, and that Mr. Shuard was goin on very favourably.
Mr. George Powell, of New-street, Birmingham, linen
draper, was next examined—I was, a passenger by the
express train from Manchester on Saturday night last,
and have been accustomed to travel a great deal by rail,
chiefly by express trains. The only thing I had to
complain of was that there was great delay both at Staf-
ford and Wolverhampton. I noticed nothing myself
until after the accident had occurred. I was awake.
I was in the middle carriage, and got out through the
window into the field opposite. Our carriage was not
flat upon the ground; it was prevented from falling quite
flat by the embankment. I did not notice any thumping
in our carriage.
At this stage of the proceedings the summoning offi-
cer, who had been directed by the coroner to proceed to
Mr. Shuard's apartment to ascertain the nature of his
evidence, returned and announced that Mr. Shuard had
nothing whatever to say.
Evidence of Mr. Powell resumed—When I got out I
noticed the first carriage of the train, and one compart-
ment appeared to be completely torn off. I did not ob-
serve that we were going beyond the usual speed of ex-
press trains immediately before the accident. Imme-
diately .after getting into the field I saw an engine
coming up the line, which ran right into the train, as
well as I could see. This engine went on for about 200
yards, and then turned over. I should say it was going
at the speed of ordinary trains at the time it struck the
carriage. I should think that the single engine was
not proceeding with that degree of caution which it
ought to have done, as a pilot-engine sent to look after
an accident.
By Mr. Carter—If it was not the case that such en-
gine was sent to look after an accident, then there was
not so much blame attaching to the driver. At the
end of the carriage which appeared to be torn
out you could walk into the carriage without
opening the door. It was not so at both ends of the car-
riage. The carriage. appeared to me to be completely
cut in two between the front and middle compartment.
If the pilot-engine had damaged either of the carriages
it must have been the first compartment, cut in two as I
have described. The plan of the accident shown to me
does not:show the accident as I saw it, or the division of
the carriage to which I have alluded. As far as I can
judge, the end of the carriage torn out was that attached
to the other carriages.
By a juror—l can form no opinion as to the cause of
the accident.
Mr. Francis Trevethick examined—l reside at Crewe,
and am locomotive superintendent of the northern divi-
sion of the London and North-Western Railway. I
went out on a pilot-engine on Saturday night last from
Birmingham at from a quarter to ten minutes before
eight o'clock. I went out to observe the working of the
line. I did so on my own suggestion, and I may ob-
serve that the driver of the engine, Joyce, remarked
to me that he wondered if the express train would
be sufficiently behind time to render it necessary for
him to go out in search of her. It was ray intention
to have gone to Wolverhampton or to Stafford,
had the accident not happened, and I told Joyce
to take the engine out, and asked him if he could
catch the express down train, and he replied, " No." A
luggage-train being moved prevented us going out for
about five minutes, and we then went out without fur-
ther remark. I beg to say that when we started I had
no thought whatever of attempting to catch the express
train, knowing that it had been gone 25 minutes. We
started and went at the rate of about 35 miles an hour.
On entering the Newton cutting, the engineman shut
off a portion of his steam. No remark was made, nor
did anything further occur until the engine turned over.
I instantly got off on my legs, and the engineman re-
marked that there was no signal up. I ran back until I
saw an engine with her front out towards Birmingham
on the down line. Matthews, the driver, was on the en-
gine. I asked him what was the matter, and he replied
that they had got off the rails; I then looked at the
scotches, and found a passenger confined, under one of
them. I procured a screw jack from the pilot-engine,
and proceeded to rescue him. The wounded passenger,
was placed in a carriage, and brought on to Birmingham
by another train.
CORONER—Did you notice what caused you to go off
the line ? Witness—Yes ;it was in consequence of the
rails being removed from the down line. The engine
which was attached to the express train was called the
was quite destroyed on the north side of
4, Colonel." On going to where that engine lay I found
that the road
the "Cillonel engine for a space of twenty yards at
least.

CORONER—Is it necessary for the proper management
of the line to have special engines running about the
railway ? Witness—There are five used for this special
purpose between Birmingham and Liverpool, one every
30 miles, or thereabout. There is nothing in their use
to compromise public safety ; on the contrary. I think
there can be no objection to such a practice. I consider
it was a' portion of my duty to inspect the working of
the line, as sunrintendent of the locomotive department.
By the CORONER—I Should say that the rocking of
carriages might begin on the narrow gauge at from 45 to
50 miles an hour. I have never been on an engine on a
narrow gauge line that could exceed 60 miles an hour.
I think we can run safely at 50 miles an hour. I think
that no oscillating motion would be given under 55 miles
an hour if the rails were in fair running order. The
reason of the engine and carriage being on opposite
sides of the rails would be a natural result, from the
hinder part of the train being heaviest, the greater mo-
mentum of the engine carrying it further on.
Evidence resumed—Having lately passed over that
portion of the line where the accident happened, I have
no reason to suppose there was anything wrong about
the rails.lThere is no selection of engines made to draw
express trains. They are all supposed to be in perfect
order, a minute scrutiny taking place every other day;
that is, after every journey. After working one day,
they are taken into the engine-house the next, properly
cleaned and examined, and, in the evert of anything
being wrong, it is the duty of the men to report it to the
foreman of the station. I never knew an accident occur
from the wheel of an engine being worn.
By Mr. Carter—The express train is due at Bir-
mingham from Liverpool at a quarter before eight. We
started from Birmingham before that train was due. We
did not go out with the pilot with the expectation of
meeting an accident. We were going at the rate of
thirty-five miles an hour. That is not even express
speed. I observed the carriages after the accident, and I
have no reason to suppose that the :pilot engine touched
either of the carriages. My impression is, that it did
not. The position of the engine and the carriages, as
described in the plan produced, is just that which I
should expect in the event of the last carriage of the
train having got off the line first. I consider such en-
gines as we use (six-wheeled outside cylinder engines)
would run with safety, and net get injured, at fifty or
sixty miles an hour. I did not go out to catch the down
express train. My speed of thirty-five miles an hour
shows that.
be advisable for the jury to
The CORONER here said that he thought they had now
arrived at that staCFO of the 'proceedings when it would
go and view the spot where
the accident took place, and also the engines and broken
carriages. He believed that such proceedings would
occupy theta the remainder of the day, and therefore
that it would be utterly impossible to conclude the in-
quiry. Under these circumstances, he would adjourn
the investigation till Tuesday morning next, at nine
o'clock.

The jury then proceeded, accompanied by the coroner,
Captain Symonds, and the authorities of the company,
in a special train to the scene of the accident, where a
minute examination of the line, as well as the broken
carriages, engine,
and tender, was made, and on their
return the inquest
.was again adjourned till Tuesday
next, the 12th inst.