The platform inspector gave the signal for the passenger train to stop, as he was afraid that some of the passengers who were
in the act of trying to get into the carriages after the train was in motion would be thrown under the wheels; but it seems that
he did not take sufficient care in the first instance to ascertain that all the passengers had taken their seats; and knowing the
practice adopted at the station of allowing an engine immediately to follow a departing train from this platform, he made a
great mistake in signalling the driver of the passenger train to stop after he had once put him in motion. Several inspectors or
ticket collectors were employed at this platform to assist in getting the passengers into the several carriages, and one of these
inspectors informed me that three passengers were on the platform when the platform inspector gave the signal for the train to
leave ; two of these passengers got into the compartment of a first class; carriage (which already had its proper complement of
passengers), as the train moved ahead, and they got out again when the train stopped; but the other remained on the platform.
It is customary for these inspectors to signal to the platform inspector when all the passengers have entered the carriages, but
this inspector had not given any signal on this occasion, and the train was started without it.
More care should be exercised by the platform inspector to ascertain that all the passengers are in the train, and when once
started, with an engine immediately following it, the train should not be stopped. .
The engine which followed the passenger train out from the east side of the Crystal Palace platform was going out, in order to
get in front of another train of carriages which was then standing on the line on the western side of the Crystal Palace
Platform, and which was to leave at 5h. 33m., and also to leave the eastern side clear for the next incoming train from the
Crystal Palace, due at 5h. 23m., or about the time when the collision took place. The driver of No. 180 engine has been
blamed for not keeping a better look out; but in my opinion it will be desirable to adopt the practice followed at some of the
other metropolitan terminal stations, of keeping the following engine at the platform until a specific signal is given that the
line is clear for it to leave, either to go to the coke shed, &c., or to get in front of some other train.