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Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Slough on 16th June 1900

Document Summary

The report on the collision of two passenger trains at Slough in 1900. This accident led directly to the development of Automatic Train Control (ATC), the fore-runner of AWS.

This document was published on 1st September 1900 by Board of Trade.

It was written by Lieut. Col. H. A. Yorke.

This item is linked to the Accident at Slough on 16th June 1900

The original document format was Bound Volume, and comprised 14 pages.

This document was kindly sourced from Steve Thompson and is in our Accident reports collection. It was added to the Archive on 23rd December 2007.

Copyright Information

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"In this case, while the 1.5 p.m. train ex Paddington was standing at the down main platform in Slough Station, it was run into in rear by the 1.15 express from Paddington to Falmouth, which was travelling at a speed of about 25 or 30 miles an hour at the moment of the collision.

The effect of the collision was disastrous. Five passengers were killed on the spot, or died subsequently from injuries received ; 35 were seriously injured, and 90 complained of shock or minor injuries. The driver of the 1.15 train was badly bruised, and the fireman and one of the guards were shaken. Some of the injured were taken by special train to St. Mary's Hospital in London, others to the Windsor Infirmary, while a few were accommodated in private houses in Slough. Inquests mere held at Slough, Windsor, and London, and in accordance with the wishes of the Coroners for slough and Windsor and your instructions, I attended the inquests at the two places as Assessor to the Coroners.

The 1.5 pm. train consisted of a four-coupled engine and tender, and eight eight-wheeled bogie coaches, the last being a bogie third. It was fitted throughout with the automatic vacuum brake. The two rear vehicles were completely destroyed, the last but one being thrown up to the roof of the station, and then falling back on to the engine of the second train. Two other carriages next to those named had their ends driven in, one of these having two compartments completely smashed."