Report by Lieutenant-Colonel Yorke, R.E., C.B., on the Accident that occurred on the 17th September, 1912, to a Passenger Train at Ditton Junction, on the London and North Western Railway

"This is the worst accident that has occurred since that at Shrewsbury in October 1907, to which in some respects it bears a resemblance…

There is, I believe, no record of any previous accident in which the engine has broken its back, as in this case, and rarely has there been such a wholesale destruction of rolling stock.

But worse was to follow. Within a few minutes of the accident,, fire began to show itself in the wreckage against the wall of the booking office. Among the first to notice it was station-master Derby, who at once directed porters Kavanagh, Gallegher, and lampman Ryan to get out the fire-hose as quickly as possible. There are several hydrants in the station, and within a short time a hose was connected to three of them and water was directed upon the burning train from three jets, one of them being on the west, or station, side of the bridge, and two on the east side, The pressure of water is said to have been good, the supply being obtained from the Company's pumping station, which feeds the water troughs close by. In the meantime, while the who were able to do so were alighting as best they could from the carriages, assistance for the injured began to arrive at the station from various quarters. The Railway Company have a sleeper depot and creosoting works here, in which a large number of men are employed. The men are organised and drilled as a fire brigade for the protection of the Company's property, and they were soon on the spot and set to work to fight the flames and remove the wounded from the train. Many other persons poured into the station from outside. Porter Kavanagh got the tools and "extincteurs" out of the rear van and distributed them among the helpers. He then fetched the ambulance appliances from the porters' room, for use by those who were trained to render first aid. In spite, however, of all that could be done, the fire increased in volume and intensity, and before long the coaches nearest ,to and under the bridge were blazing furiously, and the archway became a veritable furnace.

It is not for me to attempt to describe the horrors of the scene. Some idea of them will be gained from the evidence in Appendix I. Suffice it to say that one and all worked their hardest to subdue the flames and reach those who were seen to be imprisoned underneath the burning wreckage."

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