1848 Shrivenham rail collision

Train collision in Shrivenham, UK November 2025 1848 Shrivenham rail collision File:Shrivenham railway station (site), Oxfordshire (geograph 3841285).jpg Site of the collision 10 May 1848 Around 3:17 p.m. Shrivenham, England United Kingdom Great Western Main Line Great Western Railway Collision Human error 2 200 8 13+ List of rail accidents (before 1880) The 1848 Shrivenham rail collision was a rail accident that occurred in England on 10 May 1848, resulting in at least six deaths and 13 injuries. Background On 10 May 1848, at around 3:17 p.m., George Pargetter (the station signalman), left his post with the signal reading that the tracks were clear. When he left his post, he failed to inform the other staff members that a train from Exeter was running late. A merchandise train was already occupying the line as it was being unloaded at the station.The 1848 Train Crash at Shrivenham Station https://www.shrivenhamheritagesociety.co.uk/downloads/train-crash-of-1848.pdf Shrivenham Heritage Society 27 March 2024 The merchandise train was parked between a turntable and a train shed. A portion of the train was still on the main line as the Exeter express made its approach.Accident at Shrivenham on 10th May 1848 https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=4517 Railways Archive 27 March 2024 The express from Exeter was running 23 minutes late because it had to pick up an additional two passenger coaches at Bristol. Engineer "Bob" Roscoe was instructed not to make up the lost time and proceeded to the station at 55 mph (88 kph).Foley Michael Britain's Railway Disasters: Fatal Accidents From the 1830s to the Present Day 2013 Pen & Sword Books Limited 40–41 https://ebin.pub/britains-railway-disasters-fatal-accidents-from-the-1830s-to-the-present-day-9781781593790-1781593795.html Collision As the Exeter express approached, it was too late. Roscoe first saw the obstacle on the track with only 150 yards to spare. The passenger train began to sideswipe the goods train, shattering a horsebox and sending debris flying.Red for Danger L.T.C. Rolt L. T. C. Rolt Kichenside Geoffrey David & Charles 4th 1982 1955 Newton Abbot 0-7153-8362-0 176 Chapter 8 - Stray Wagons and Breakaways Behind the horsebox was a cattle car which struck the luggage car, got jammed between the platform, and then proceeded to crush the following passenger cars containing around 30 passengers. Also injured in the collision was one of the station porters who had been struck by flying debris. When the scene finally settled, the dead and injured were carried from the train cars and moved to a tavern to recover. Four passengers died on the scene, and four more died in the following days, with the last one dying eight days after the impact. Aftermath Following the disaster, a trial was held to determine blame for the accident. A jury would not put the blame on George Pargetter, despite his failure to inform the other staff of the delayed train. Instead, the other two on-duty station porters were charged and found guilty of manslaughter. 1936 Collision On 15 January 1936, Shrivenham railway station was the site of another accident, again involving a passenger express crashing into a goods train. Again, the cause would be error caused by the signalman. Two people would die in the collision and a further 28 would be injured.Train Crash at Shrivenham in 1936 https://www.shrivenhamheritagesociety.co.uk/listing.asp?listID=576 Shrivenham Heritage Society 27 March 2024Accident at Shrivenham on 15th January 1936 https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=1244 Railways Archive 27 March 2024 See also Southall rail crash - A train collision and derailment that occurred in a similar manner, with the collision also being caught on CCTV. Notes collapsed 51.5868 -1.6585 type:railwaystation_region:GB title Category:Great Western Main Line Category:Train collisions in England Category:1848 in the United Kingdom Category:Railway accidents in 1848 Category:Transport disasters in 1848