Description

Number 43 on the list occurred at Ushaw Moor Colliery on the 7th of October, about 11 o'clock a.m., causing the death of Thomas Bell, an engineman.

This accident was of an unusual character, and therefore I do not think to describe it I can do better than give in full the evidence taken at the inquest held before Mr. Coroner Graham on the 9th of October.

It was as follows :—

Henry Graham said: " I am a locomotive fireman. The regular driver of the locomotive on which the accident occurred is John Herron. Deceased has been a winding engineman for several years and has on previous occasions acted as relief locomotive driver when Herron has been absent. He thoroughly understood the work and the engine. On the morning in question he relieved Herron, and took charge of the locomotive at 9 o'clock. He had been working at the winding from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the morning of the accident, but before coming on to the locomotive he went home and had a little rest and his breakfast. I acted as fireman with him. About the time of the accident we went to the fan depot and took a truck out at the engine, and then proceeded to the new coke yard at the east end of the colliery, and joined up to some full waggons, of which four were coupled on at the front end of the engine. The empty waggon was then run under the screens, the gradient being that way. I then gave deceased the signal to start, and he did so, I ran down to see that the switches leading to the screens had been altered, when deceased shouted 'Right,' which I took to mean that they were set right for the way we were going, and that was outside the screens altogether. The first switches were self-acting and we passed through them safely ; we then came to those connecting the way to the screen, which were worked by a handle. The way the engine was going gave deceased a clear view of the way and switches, but unfortunately they had not been altered since the truck was run into the screens, and the engine, therefore, took that way. I did not notice that we going the wrong way, but someone shouted. I did not understand what for, but thought we had lost some waggons off, and shouted to deceased to stop ; he heard and understood me, and applied the brake. Instinctively I must have jumped off the engine. I do not know what happened afterwards. The pressure gauge registered 120 lbs. just before the accident, and that is the pressure at which the steam blows off."

John Mould said: "I am a small runner, and when the accident occurred I was standing on the coke ovens and had a good view of the road the engine was taking. I saw the engine start from the new coke yard, and it went at a medium rate. I saw it afterwards take the wrong way at the switches and make direct for the screens. I instantly shouted to attract the attention of the fireman, who had just jumped on to the engine. I then saw deceased apply the brake, and the trucks join each other, and the engine was immediately forced against the gangway, under which it partly ran and broke the steam dome off, and there was a great rush of steam and hot water, and on that account I saw nothing more."

Robert Curry said: "I am engineer at Ushaw Moor Colliery and had charge of this locomotive. I have had experience with others of a similar type. Some have had cast iron domes, but the majority have had them made of wrought iron. This was a new engine when it came here, in 1891, direct from the makers, Messrs. Black, Hawthorn, and Company, of Gateshead-on-Tyne. The regulating lever, when I first saw it after the accident, was bent as it is now, but I cannot say where the steam was on or off at the time of the accident. I examined the engine on Friday night, and made a report of such inspection. It was then all right. I knew the dome was of cast iron and took it for granted that it was quite safe. I consider it is a good casting and free from honey-combing. It is scant ¾ of an inch of metal on one side and 15/16 of an inch on the other."

Jacob Swan said: "I am a boilermaker employed at Messrs. Black, Hawthorn, and Company's works. They build many locomotive of this type. Sometimes they are fitted with cast iron and sometimes wrought iron domes. I should say the number of each will be almost equal. It is quite a matter of fancy and specification which is put in. A wrought iron dome would be safer than a cast iron one in the case of its receiving a blow, but it is possible that if a wrought iron one had such a blow, as this one of cast iron had, it would have torn away at the rivet holes, and the result would have been the same. All boilers and domes are tested before leaving the works by hydraulic pressure to 220 lbs. per square inch."

After a very careful inquiry the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," with the recommendation "that, in future, a falling lever be attached to the switches, so that they could not remain open for the screens."

This recommendation was carried out, and I am hopeful that it will prevent an accident of this kind in future.

The cast iron dome was altogether new to me ; all the locomotives I have seen up to this time having had them made of wrought iron, and they are, in my opinion, much safer than those made of cast iron. Had this locomotive been fitted with one of wrought iron I am inclined to believe that this lamentable accident would not have occurred.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1893 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7339), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 15 Where to find this report
• 1893 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7339), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 39, Accident Number: 43 Where to find this report

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