The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-09 00:00:00

FEARFUL RAILWAY COLLISION.

A collision, involving injury to several passen-
gers, happened on Monday evening during the fog
at the Lea Bridge Station of the Eastern Counties
Railway, about the same time as tha unfortunate
event on the North London, and,-as will be seen,
arose from the want of proper precaution in run-
ning heavy goods trains in such weather close in
the rear of passenger trains. As this section of
the line passes over the Hackney and Tottenham
marshes, the fog, if possible, was more dense than
in the adjacent suburbs • so black was it that the
drivers could scarcely
.discern the funnels of their
engines, and all the signal lamps were blank to
them until they were within a few feet of where
they were fixed. It appears that a train which
had left Shoreditch terminus about four o'clock,
broke down somewhere between Lea Bridge and
Tottenham Station, blocking up the down line to
all out-going traffic. The five o'clock express was
brought up, and on the approach of the 5.10 train
from London to Hertford, it was stopped at the
Lea Bridge Station. This was followed by the
Enfield train from town, which left Shoreditch at
5.20, and as the Hertford train occupied the line in
the station, the Enfield train was brought to a halt
on the London side of it. What precautions were
taken to communicate by telegraph to Stratford of
the break down and of the blockage of the trains,
so As to prevent any further trains, especially goods,
being sent on, until the obstruction was removed,
has not transpired, but from the sad consequences
that followed it would appear that if any orders
were forwarded they must either have been mis-
understood or most seriously disregarded. The
Enfield train had been standing scarcely five
minutes, as we were informed by a person who
was on the spot, when the passengers were alarmed
by the noise of a near approaching train at their
rear, and ere they could do anything to protect
themselves a most serious collision took place,
partially demolishing the hinder carriages. One
of them was a first-class, in which was Mr. Sin-
clair, one of the superintendents of the line, who
was seriously cut and hurt about the head. A
third class, which was filled. with clerks and
others from the City, suffered the most. The
end compartment was shattered in, and almost
every one of the occupants met with some in-
jury. Mr. Gee, a person of independence, living
in Green-leaf Lane, Walthamstow, was found
almost in an insensible state. Besides a contused

wound on his head he had sustained a severe injury

in his back. The density of the fog added to the
difficulty of extricating the wounded passengers
and removing them to a place of safety. They
were at length got to the Greyhound Tavern, ad-
jacent to the station, when everything way done
to alleviate their pain. Mr. Pinchin and other
surgeons from Walthamstow were in attendance as
soon as practicable. Most of the passengers, after
their wounds were dressed, were forwarded to their
respective residences, but Mr. Gee's condition was
such as to render his detention at the tavern all
night necessary. The train which cansed the col-
lision was a heavy goods' train, for Norwich, drawn
by two of the large engines, and why it was allowed
to leave Stratford so soon, in such dense weather
after the Enfield train had passed, before the pre-
caution was taken of asking Lea-bridge " whether
the line was clear," seems unaccountable. It is
stated by the company's officers that the Enfield
train was protected at the rear by four fog signals,
the furthest of which was 800 yards up the line,
and that the goods train had passed over them ;
and if they really were so placed, for there are
doubts, it is difficult to conceive why the train was
not brought to a stoppage within that distance.
The board of directors met yesterday afternoon
to investigate the unfortunate occurrence. Mr.
Robertson, superintendent of the line, was exa-
mined on the matter, but the result had not been
communicated. The following is a list of the per-
injury to b-ack
sons hurt :
anAdic%nGtusee'ed head.
Greleaf-lano, Walthamstow,
Mr. Sinclair, one of the superintendents of the company,
injury to the head.
Mr. Jones, Tottenham-green,internal injury.
Mr. Hunt, Marsh-street, Walthamstow, contused face.
Mr. Rolph, Walthamstow, injury to leg.
Mr. Atkins, Tottenham, injury to face.
Mr. Richards, Higham-hill, Walthamstow, contused
head.
-Rel.'. Mr. England, oMarsh-street Waltha , nastow.
Mr. Nelson and son, of Mark House Corner. .
Mr. Whittingham, residing
, secretary to a land society,
at Walthamstow, injury to legs.