The LNER Encyclopedia

does anyone know if there were any Kings Cross Loco Crews in the C1888 Hexthorpe Train Disaster, ive read in the 1888 ASLEF Journal (Kings Cross Branch) that a Driver Taylor and Fireman Davis had to go to court over it, but i cant prove or disprove they were Kings Cross men.... anyone out there be able to help me ??? anyone be able to put first names to these men ?

The Hexthorpe accident of 1887 involved an MR excursion to Doncaster races and a MS&L Liverpool - Hull express. So the crews were very unlikely to have been GNR men. The Midland driver and fireman were Samuel Taylor and Robert Davies and they were both found guilty of negligence and charged with manslaughter.

Thanks Bill
that clears that one up nicely for me......

This accident is described in Great Central Vol 2 by George Dow - pages 202-205. It occurred on 16th September 1887 - Doncaster Gold Cup day at the Races. A Midland excursion train from Sheffield standing at Hexthorpe ticket platform was struck in the rear by an MSLR Liverpool and Manchester to Hull express. The MSLR crew of the Hull express were Samuel Taylor - driver and Robert Davies - fireman on a Sacre 4-4-0 locomotive. Twenty five people were killed and 94 injured.
Taylor and Davies were tried for manslaughter in 1888 at Manchester and acquitted.
The ASLEF connection is that their defence was paid for by ASLEF not the MSLR which due to claims from the accident was virtually bankrupt.
George Dow comments that following their acquittal the membership of ASLEF leapt almost overnight by 2067.

I wonder why the fireman was included in the blame for the accident.

I have a copy of the BoT accident report. Fireman Davies, in his evidence, admitted that whilst he had received a copy of the special traffic notice, he had not read it! He also admitted that he had seen the two flagmen(waving red flags) but omitted to tell his driver. The driver admits to not seeing the flagmen. As a result Major Marindin stated that both men were to blame. Block working between Hexthorpe junction and Cherry Tree siding was suspended on that day and the STN stated that drivers must proceed cautiously '...keeping perfect control over their trains so as to be able to come to a stand immediately on seeing a train in front'. Special signalmen, ie flagmen, were provided between these two points.

The fireman could have been feeding the boiler at the time, but if not he is the drivers second pair of eyes, who Knows
Geofrancis

Thanks for the answer.

A fireman seeing two red flags being waved and not telling the driver?

His feet wouldn't have touched the ground again if I had been the driver.