Description

Empty chaldron waggons weighing 2½ tons are drawn in sets of 46 from the staiths on the Tyne to the foot of self-acting inclines leading to the Ouston, &c., and Heworth Collieries. The road is single line of ordinary gauge and declines to the river, the loaded sets running by gravity taking with them a main rope 2¾ inches circumference which draws by a stationary engine the empty sets back. There is a curve over 200 yards long where the line passes under the North Eastern Railway just south of Pelaw station. On this curve are 18 special binding sheaves placed between the rails. The speed is from 6 to 8 miles per hour. A set of 46 empty wagons was being hauled up, the first 30 for Ouston, &c., Collieries and the last 16 for Heworth Colliery. A waggon rider rode on the front of the and another was on the set between the 30th and 31st waggons. The rope is attached to the waggons by a knock off with a cotterill. When the set was on the curve the waggon rider in front noticed that the rope was running in the framework of one of the special sheaves and he stood up on the buffer and attempted to draw the cotterill on the knock off, but before he could do so the sheave was torn up and thrown clear of the rails on the inside of the curve and the leading seven waggons were derailed and he was thrown off and run over. The engineman was aware something was wrong and stopped his engine when the derailed waggons had travelled about 34 yards. Deceased was found clear of the rails and waggons on the outside of the curve and was able to say what had happened. He was much injured and was taken to Newcastle Infirmary, where he died the same day. It was stated that the waggon riders were instructed in the event of the rope getting into the framework of the sheaves not to attempt to disconnect it from the set but to jump off and save themselves.

Census Data

Please note: the census extracts shown here are our 'best guess match' to the person shown on this page and is not intended to be definitive — only knowledge of the family would allow this.

Tombstone

Sources

• 1881 Census — taken 3rd April, 1881
• 1907 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4045), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 54, Accident Number: 57 Where to find this report
• Church/Cemetery photograph (T-04897-08-0002) © Kev Duncan
• Headstone(s) in St. Alban's Churchyard, Windy Nook, Gateshead
• Tombstone photograph (T-04901-08-0002) © Kev Duncan

Researchers

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