The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1876-06-24 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.  An accident occurred on Monday afternoon on the Midland Railway, near Sheepbridge station. The line at that point is undergoing repair, ad while one of the rails was up a coal tram was allowed, by mistake, to pass the signalman. The engine, tender, and several wagons run off the line, and a great deal of damage was done to the permanent way. The line was blocked for several hours, an 4 the traffic had to be worked on a single line of rails. The rolling stock was also very much damaged. Passengers by the South Wales union section of the Great Western Railway have to cross the great estuary of the Severn, from Gloucestershire to 'Monmouthshire, by a steamer plying between two lofty piers built in the river at Port Skowett, where the tide rises and falls forty feet. Heavy luggage is lowered by a steam crane. On Wednesday morning a railway official named Rawlings, and a schoolboy on holiday from London, were ascending from the steamer in the cage, and at the height of forty feet the projecting lever of the cage caught the woodwork and was upset. Its occupants were dashed t pieces in sight of the passengers. On Monday a sad fatality occurred on the Southport and Liverpool Railway near Hightown Station. Miss Meek, a young lady residing at Blundell Sands, was sitting upon the sloping bank of the railway, when the Liverpool 11 20 express came in sight. Either through fear or while in one of the fits to which she is subject, she fell down the embankment, and was literally cut to pieces by the passing train. It was stated that the case was one of suicide, ar.d that when the train got about fifty yards fr6in the lady she, in a cool and deliberate manner, threw herself on the metals. This being observed, steam was shut off and the brakes applie i, but the train went over her, completely severing her head from her body, the latter being.cut to pieces. On the train stopping, the guard and others proceeded to examine the mutilated remains of the deceased, and in her pocket was found a small hymnbook, in which was written the name of Miss Meek, A pocket handkerchief was also found upon her, having on it the initials " E.0.M." The remains were placed on a platelayers' truck and taken to the Hightown Hotel. The deceased appeared to be about 25 years of age, and she is supposed to belong to a well-to-do family living near LiverpooL A collision occurred at the Midland Railway station, at Sheffield, on Monday, which created considerable alarm. The down express from  London to Leeds is timed to leave heffield at 11 50, and a train from Rotherham is timed to enter the station at the same moment. The trains from Rotherham as they emerge from the tunnel at the north end of the station cross over the main down line and into a "dock "at the lett of it. .The driver of the Leeds train received the signal to preceed on his journey, but the signals at the north junction were against him, as the ltotheram train was then approaching. fie did not notice the signals, and arrived at the junction at the moment that the engine of the Rotherham train was crossing over the down line. The two engines came into violent collision, the crash of which was heard in the station followed by the cries of the injured and frightened passengers. Mr. Curtis, the station master, and a staff of officials, hastened ta the place, and as the result of their inquiries it was found that the brunt of the collision had been borne by the Rotherham train, all the passengers in which had been more or less severely shaken, and half a dozen had sustained severe cots and bruises abort their faces and heads. One old  man, 78 years of age, had received a frightful cut on the forehead. They were conducted to the waiting room, wh,Te medical aid was rendered to them. The passengers in the Leeds train were °much more fortunate, as they escaped with a slight shaking, and they were able to resume their journey after a short delay. Both engines were so much d imaged, the buffers having been Knocked off, that they had to be replaced. No damage was done to the permanent way, and the ordinary traffic was not interfered with.