Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Horsforth on 20th September 1849

"The firs-man of the engine was on the ground at the rear of the train, and was killed by a piece of cast-iron piping which was projected from the guard's van of the express train, so that his evidence is lost. The guard of the goods train states, that he saw a man with a lamp, who must have been the porter, run towards the train; and after that the train moved forwards, and that the man moved half way up or along the train He did not hear him shout. This guard's evidence is, however, contradicted in another point; but making all due allowance for the darkness of the night, and the suddenness of the collision, and the short time there was for reflection, I do not think that it is to be expected that all these parties should precisely agree in their statement. This renders it difficult to select from them the precise bearings of the case. If the engine driver's statement be correct, he is not to blame, as he had every reason to suppose that the signals were on. If the porter's statement be correct, the driver was to blame in shunting. The express train left Leeds at 7.30 P.M., 10 minutes late, and appears to have run into the goods train at a speed of about 30 miles an hour. It consisted of four carriages, and a van between them and the engine and tender, and in which was the guard. There were between 30 and 40 passengers, of whom several were hurt."

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