IGNITING THE FLAME OF UNITY

THE HISTORY OF THE

BRIGHTON BRANCH OF A.S.L.E.F.

 

 

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NEW CROSS

30th MARCH 1866


involving Driver James Prevett

Depot unknown


extracted & adapted from the report by

F.H. Rich Captain R.E.


A collision occurred on the 30th March 1866, at New Cross station of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway. 

Numerous special trains were run on that day (which was Good Friday) between the Crystal Palace and London. One of these 

special trains travelling from the Crystal Palace to London Bridge was drawn up at the platform of New Cross station about 

11.22 p.m. Whilst it was standing there another special train, which left the Palace a few minutes before 11, and which had 

stopped at Sydenham and Forest Hill, stations, to set down passengers, ran into New Cross station and came into collision 

with it.

The train that was standing at the platform, consisted of an engine and tender, two guard's break vans (one of which was at the 

tail of the train) and eleven carriages.

The light at the tail of this train had gone out, between Forest Hill and New Cross stations, and the guard was in the act of 

renewing it when his train was run into.

The train that ran into the one standing at the station consisting of an engine and tender and 11 carriages. Two of these 

carriages had break compartments with guards in them, one guard been in the carriage next to the tender and the other in the 

carriage at the tail of the train. As this train approached New Cross station, the auxiliary as well as the station, signal were at 

danger. Under these circumstances it was the duty of the driver, to pull up outside the station, and not to enter the station, till 

he had received a signal to do so. 

The driver of this second train, admits that he observed that both the auxiliary and station signals were at danger, and he states, 

that he pulled up, or very nearly so, outside the station, but that when he got within 100 yards of the platform, he looked 

forward, and believing that there was no train standing at the platform, he allowed his train to run slowly in. 

The approach to New Cross station from the south is on a falling gradient of 1 in l00, which changes to a level gradient at the 

over bridge at the south end of the platform.

Owing to the lamp at the tail of the train which was standing at the platform having gone out, the driver of the second train did 

not perceive his mis- take, till they got within 18 or 20 yards of the standing train.

The first thing that he noticed, was the reflection of a white light on the back of the van. He reversed his engine, put on steam, 

and desired his fireman to apply his break, but he could not prevent his engine, from striking the hind van of the standing train, 

at a speed, which he estimates at about two miles an hour, but which judging by the effects, was probably three or four miles 

per hour.

The London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway in providing for such contingencies as lamps being extinguished, always 

have two ready at New Cross station to replace any that may not burn properly. ,

There were two such lamps at New Cross on the 30th March, and one of them was handed to the guard of the train by one of 

the men on duty at the station.

The guard did not consider that the fresh lamp was very bright. He put it on the tail of his train and then opened it, and stood 

in front of it to prick up the wick. Whlle he was doing so, a man shouted to him "to run, that the train would be into him." He 

did so, just in time to escape.

None of the carriages in either train, were knocked off the line, nor were either the engines or tenders.

Some of the glass windows of the carriages were broken. The bodies of three carriages were shifted on the frames   and the 

head stocks and pillars of the break vane were broken.

The standing train was knocked forward three or four carriage lengths.

About 50 passengers are known to have received cuts and bruises, but 100 have sent in claims for injuries. No bones were 

broken.

James Prevett, the driver of the second train, has been 26 years in the Company's service.- He has been a driver for about 17 

years, and for the last 14 he has been driving between London and Epsom, so that he knows the line thoroughly.

His only excuse for coming into New Cross station against the signals, and in direct disobedience of the Company's rules, is, 

that he has often done so before, when he saw that the platform was not occupied with another train.

As New Cross is the station for collecting the passengers' tickets, trains are constantly stopped outside the station, particularly 

on such holiday occasions as Good Friday, The rule of the Company is, that, after being stopped they shall enter by hand 

signal from the signalman, whose box is above the over bridge at the south end of the platform. Trains are so frequent, that it 

is not considered desirable that the signalman should lower his signal to admit them, unless when the line is clear at the time 

of their arrival.

It appears that a little laxity has crept in at New  Cross, owing to the great number of trains and the anxiety of all the servants 

of the Company to expedite them as much as possible.

The practice has been, consequently, that some- times the signalman gives the hand signal to admit the trains, sometimes the 

station master, and sometimes the head porter, and it naturally follows, that frequently the drivers and guards depend on their 

own observation, and come in without a signal from anyone.

James Prevett states that he has frequently done so before at New Cross station, and his practice appears to have been 

followed by others, but to have been confined to New Cross station.

Neither the signalman or station master have reported these disobediences of the Company's regulations, which they should 

have done if they had been aware of them, but they do not appear to have come directly under their notice, for the simple 

reason, that when trains come in, the station master could not see what the signal man was doing, nor the signal man what the 

station master was doing, and they therefore supposed, that one or other had given the hand signal calling in the train.

The present accident has been caused by a driver of great experience and bearing a most excellent character having gene on in 

direct disobedience of the signals, believing that ha was able to judge for instead of being guided by the signals and 

regulations of the Company he was serving.

I recommend that the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company should provide the South signalman at New 

Cross station with some indicator or small signal for admitting trains to New Cross station after they have been stopped by the 

auxiliary or station signals, and that such small signal shall be visible to the station master or other person in authority on the 

platform.

If they think it necessary and desirable, the station master or platform superintendent may be furnished with the means of 

communicating with the signal- man, but I think it essential that the responsibility of admitting trains to the station shall be 

placed under the control of one person only, and the most person appears to me to be the signalman. 

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