PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN
The Ford telescope bridge over the river Arun, was the first ever bridge of its kind to be constructed
FORD ARUN BRIDGE
A MACABRE INCIDENT
27th NOVEMBER 1851
Extracted and adapted from the report by
Simmons R.E., Captain,
Ford drawbridge which strides over the river Arun near Ford station, was the scene of macabre incident on the 27th
November 1851 when a passenger train hauled by 'Sharp Brothers Singles' loco No. 81, ran into the rear of a cattle train
and went over the embankment, dragging its train behind. Two passengers and the fireman of No. 81 were injured, the
latter dying of his injuries a few days later. The driver of the cattle train on seeing collision was imminent jumped into the
river to save himself, while the other driver on loco No. 81, who had been at fault for disregarding a signal, attempted to
commit suicide, first by slit his own throat as recognition of his guilt; he failed, and then he too jumped into the river. He
was rescued, presumably none to willing, by one of the guards involved in the incident.
I have the honour to inform you, that in compliance with your instructions, I proceeded to Arundel on the 2d instant, to
inquire into the circumstances attending the accident which occurred from a collision between a passenger and a goods
train, near the Ford station, on the Brighton and Portsmouth section of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, on
the 27th ultimo. The fireman of the passenger-train died on the 30th ultimo from the injuries he had sustained; and a
coroner's inquest was held on the 2d instant, at which I attended.
The following are facts which I learned.- The passenger-train, due to leave Brighton at 9.30 p.m., left on the evening of the
27th ultimo at its proper time, and is stated to have reached the Littlehampton station about a minute late; but It appears that
on this line the times of departure from and arrival at the terminal stations alone are noted, and that no record is kept of
those times at the intermediate stations, After the train had remained a minute there, it proceeded on its way. At 1 mile 54
chains from the Littlehampton station is situated the Ford station, at about 100 yards from which, on the Littlehampton side,
is the river Arun, which is crossed by a bridge constructed to be drawn back, so as to leave a clear opening for the passage
of vessels. “ .'he line is inclined upwards on each side towards the bridge; a single line of rails only is laid across the river,
and on each side at point where a single line runs into double line, is a signal and switch- box. The signals always stand at “
danger"; but ten minutes before a train is due, if the line is clear, the signal for that train is placed at “ caution”; if, however,
two trains are due about the same time, the signals are kept up at “danger” till the first train appears in sight, a “ caution”
signal is then exhibited to it, the signal for the other line remaining at danger” till that train has passed over the bridge. On
the day in question the goods train, which leaves Portsmouth for Brighton every day at 7 p.m. arrived at the Ford station at
about 20 minutes to 10. The regular goods-traine on this line, of which there are two daily, are stated to start at fixed times
from the termini and to work their way to their journey's end as quickly as possible, no record being kept of the time of
passing the several stations, This train having taken on some additional wagons (80 that it consisted in all of 42) at the Ford
station, was ready to leave that station at about 8 or 10 minutes past 10 o’clock. The passenger-train from Brighton was
about two minutes over due, but as it was not signalled at the opposite side of the bridge as being in sight, the goods-train
received the green light or cautionary signal, and :proceeded on its way, the red light being exhibited towards the expected
passenger-train, as 18 proved by the statement of the engine- driver of the goods-train. By the time the engine of the goods-
train had reached the middle of the bridge, the passenger-train appeared in sight, and approached without slackening speed.
The engine-driver and fireman had, it appears, occupied themselves about ‘ he-fire after leaving Littlehampton station, and
neglected to look for the signal at the bridge, although they came in sight of it within about 300 yards of Littlehampton -
station. The guard was in a break-van next to the tender, and he states that in consequence of the steam from the engine
obscuring the glass of his look-out window, he could -. not see any thing ahead. The passenger train arrived at the points
near the bridge, where the double line of rails is turned into the single line, at the time when the goods-engine and six or
seven wagons had passed; the passenger engine struck the side of the eighth waggon, and glancing oft’ it went down the
embankment, dragging the train after it. The fireman had his skull fractured, and remained insensible till his death. The
engine-driver was not injured by the accident; but immediately afterwards cut his throat-as he did not, however. succeed in
killing himself in that way he afterwards threw himself into the river, but was pulled out again by the guard, and has
remained in a dangerous state ever since. He states, that after leaving Littlehampton, he had been looking at the fire, and
that the glare from that prevented him for the moment from seeing the signals.
This is attributable to the carelessness of the engine-driver, who is without excuse, for having allowed himself and his
fireman, on approaching the part of the line in question, to be occupied in any way which could distract their attention from
the signal. But as this accident shows that signals may be neglected. and as the consequence would have been infinitely
more serious had such neglect taken place with the bridge open for the passage of vessels: I would recommend that the line
between Ford and Littlehampton be worked as a single line by means of the electric telegraph, no train being allowed to
leave either station till the line has been signalled as clear from the other station, and that the bridge is not open. This
arrangement may be adopted without inconvenience to the traffic.: there are eight passenger-trains and one goods-train each
way daily; the irregular goods, ballast, and coke trains which pass the stations, rarely exceed two or three daily, and the
bridge over the Arun is opened on an average for the passage of vessels eight times per week.
An addition to the above recommendation, I would call attention to the fact that no record appears to be kept of the times at
which the passenger-trains pass the several stations, and that the goods-trains are worked without fixed time-tables. Under
any circumstances, it appears desirable that a record of the times of trains passing the several stations should be kept, to
afford a check upon the speed of trains and the punctuality of the engine-drivers, even on lines where the limited traffic
does not appear to render such record indispensable” and also to be a means, in cases of accident, of assisting to determine
on whom the blame should rest.
* Depot of loco-men not known.
I HAVE the honour to inform you, that in compliance with your instructions, I proceeded to Arundel on the 2d instant, to
inquire into the circumstances attending the accident which occurred from a collision between a passenger and a goods train,
near the Ford station, on the Brighton and Portsmouth section of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, on the 27th
ultimo. The fireman of the passenger-train died on the 30th ultimo from the injuries he had sustained; and a coroner's inquest
was held on the 2d instant, at which I attended.
The following are facts which I learned.- The passenger-train, due to leave Brighton at 9.30 p.m., left on the evening of the
27th ultimo at its proper time, and is stated to have reached the Littlehampton station about a minute late; but It appears that
on this line the times of departure from and arrival at the terminal stations alone are noted, and that no record is kept of those
times at the intermediate stations, After the train had remained a minute there, it proceeded on its way. At 1 mile 54 chains
from the Littlehampton station is situated the Ford station, at about 100 yards from which, on the Littlehampton side, is the
river Arun, which is crossed by a bridge constructed to be drawn back, so as to leave a clear opening for the passage of
vessels. “ .'he line is inclined upwards on each side towards the bridge; a single line of rails only is laid across the river, and on
each side at point where a single line runs into double line, is a signal and switch- box. The signals always stand at " danger”;
but ten minutes before a train is due, if the line is clear, the signal for that train is placed at “ caution”; if, however, two trains
are due about the same time, the signals are kept up at “danger” till the first train appears in sight, a “ caution” signal is then
exhibited to it, the signal for the other line remaining at danger” till that train has passed over the bridge. On the day in
question the goods train, which leaves Portsmouth for Brighton every day at 7 p.m. arrived at the Ford station at about 20
minutes to 10. The regular goods-traine on this line, of which there are two daily, are stated to start at fixed times from the
termini and to work their way to their journey's end as quickly as possible, no record being kept of the time of passing the
several stations, This train having taken on some additional wagons (80 that it consisted in all of 42) at the Ford station, was
ready to leave that station at about 8 or 10 minutes past 10 o’clock. The passenger-train from Brighton was about two minutes
over due, but as it was not signalled at the opposite side of the bridge as being in sight, the goods-train received the green light
or cautionary signal, and :proceeded on its way, the red light being exhibited towards the expected passenger-train, as 18
proved by the statement of the engine- driver of the goods-train. By the time the engine of the goods-train had reached the
middle of the bridge, the passenger-train appeared in sight, and approached without slackening speed. The engine-driver and
fireman had, it appears, occupied themselves about ‘ he-fire after leaving Littlehampton station, and neglected to look for the
signal at the bridge, although they came in sight of it within about 300 yards of Littlehampton - station. The guard was in a
break-van next to the tender, and he states that in consequence of the steam from the engine obscuring the glass of his look-out
window, he could -. not see any thing ahead. The passenger train arrived at the points near the bridge, where the double line of
rails is turned into the single line, at the time when the goods-engine and six or seven wagons had passed; the passenger
engine struck the side of the eighth waggon, and glancing oft’ it went down the embankment, dragging the train after it. The
fireman had his skull fractured, and remained insensible till his death. The engine-driver was not injured by the accident; but
immediately afterwards cut his throat-as he did not, however. succeed in killing himself in that way he afterwards threw
himself into the river, but was pulled out again by the guard, and has remained in a dangerous state ever since. He states, that
after leaving Littlehampton, he had been looking at the fire, and that the glare from that prevented him for the moment from
seeing the signals.
This is attributable to the carelessness of the engine-driver, who is without excuse, for having allowed himself and his
fireman, on approaching the part of the line in question, to be occupied in any way which could distract their attention from
the signal. But as this accident shows that signals may be neglected. and as the consequence would have been infinitely more
serious had such neglect taken place with the bridge open for the passage of vessels: I would recommend that the line between
Ford and Littlehampton be worked as a single line by means of the electric telegraph, no train being allowed to leave either
station till the line has been signalled as clear from the other station, and that the bridge is not open. This arrangement may be
adopted without inconvenience to the traffic.: there are eight passenger-trains and one goods-train each wa.y daily; the
irregular goods, ballast, and coke trains which pass the stations, rarely exceed two or three daily, and the bridge over the Arun
is opened on an average for the passage of vessels eight times per week.
An addition to the above recommendation, I would call attention to the fact that no record appears to be kept of the times at
which the passenger-trains pass the several stations, and that the goods-trains are worked without fixed time-tables. Under any
circumstances, it appears desirable that a record of the times of trains passing the several stations should be kept, to afford a
check upon the speed of trains and the punctuality of the engine-drivers, even on lines where the limited traffic does not
appear to render such record indispensable” and also to be a means, in cases of accident, of assisting to determine on whom
the blame should rest.