
Accident to ‘Flying Scotchman’[sic] at Heeley Station 1876
Wood engraving. Illustrated London News 2 December 1876 6 ¼ x 8 3/8” (15.9 x 21.3 cm.)
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November 22, 1876, the "Flying Scotsman" was traveling between 30 and 40 mph when "the hind portion dashed into the station" at Heeley, a mile out of Sheffield, according to the December 2, 1876 issue of the "Illustrated London News." Here is the original text.
“The night express-train on the Midland Railway to Scotland, which has been jocularly called by this nickname, met with an alarming accident on the night of Tuesday week. The train left St. Pancras at 9.15 that night, and was due at Sheffield at one o'clock next morning. The accident took place at the Heeley station, a mile distant from Sheffield, where ordinary trains usually stop for the collection of tickets, while express-trains run through to Sheffield station. At the time of the accident, it is said, the train was going at the rate of thirty or forty miles an hour; and, when at a distance of about a hundred yards south of the Heeley station, the hind portion of the train left the rails. The couplings broke and, while the first part of the train went on in the direction of Sheffield, the hind portion dashed into the station and became a complete wreck. There were two Pullman sleeping-cars in the train, and the couplings broke at the first of these. This carriage, leaving the hind portion of the train, came crashing along over the sleepers, and, at the entrance to the station, came into collision with the semaphore outside the signalman's box, which was thrown down to the platform. Mounting the platform, the car and the remainder of the carriages ran along for a distance of about fifty yards, in their course smashing up the platform as if it were a structure of cardboard. The Pullman car was then brought to a stop by being thrown upon its side, falling away from the platform and blocking the up rails. The front bogie-wheels remained on the platform, but those behind were driven into the carriage immediately in the rear. A distance of fifty yards separated this carriage from the second Pullman car, the couplings of which had broken immediately after the separation from the main body of the train. This car was off the rails, but remained upright. The other carriages that followed were smashed. Fortunately there were but few passengers in the train, and it seems marvellous that any of them escaped. Only five were injured, and, except in one case, none of the injuries are of a serious character. There were six passengers in the first of the Pullman cars, and only one passenger in the second. At the time of the accident there was no one at the station, but two policemen happened to be not far distant. They at once called up the station-master, and rendered what assistance they could. By that time most of the passengers had managed to scramble out of the carriages. The first part of the train was brought back to the station, and the passengers taken on to Sheffield, where they received the attention of medical men. With but one exception, they resumed their journey in a special train. Our Illustration, showing the position of the overturned carriages, is from a sketch by Mr. W. Topham.