Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Friday 17 April 1925
Railway Collision Near Doncaster
Three Men Killed
Runaway Goods Van and Trucks.
A collision between two goods trains within few miles of Doncaster, in the early hours yesterday morning, caused the deaths of three and injury to a fourth.
The names of the dead are:—
Ronald Edward Scorah (27), married, 5, Northgate Mexborough, fireman.
John Lindley Brown (35), married, 31, Albert Road, Mexborough, goods guard.
Frederick Quickfall, King’s Road, Barnetby, goods guard.
The injured man is Charles Peter Brown (35), widower, 44, Hampden Road, Mexborough.
The accident occurred shortly before 3 o’clock, on what is known the Doncaster Avoiding line, constructed a few years before the war to cope with the increase of mineral traffic, and was caused the breaking of coupling chain or draw bar by which portion of one train ran back into the other train, which was following. two trains were going in the same direction, one having load of wagons merchandise from Ashton Moss, near Oldham, and the other chiefly empty mineral wagons consigned to Denaby Main Colliery.
VAN AND WAGONS WRECKED.
The first train was brought to standstill by signals at Hexhorpe Junction and the following train drew a short distance behind. The break in the coupling took the first train moved off again, and as the line sharp gradient at Junction, the remaining wagons, about twenty number, moved backwards, gathering speed rapidly.
In the guard’s van, which now led the runaway wagons, were four men, the three who were killed and the one who was injured. Guard Quickfall was in charge the train, and his companions had just come off duty, and were the way to their homes at Mexborough. At the points near Sprotborough Junction signal box the runaways crashed into the engine the second train, which had remained stationary. The guard’s van and five wagons were derailed, thrown their sides, and broken into heap of splintered timber and twisted iron, mixed among which were potatoes, trusses of hay and other articles with which the wagons had been laden.
The four men were completely buried amid the debris. Charles Brown managed to extricate himself, and in spite of his injuries was able the nearest signal box and report the accident. Information was passed on Doncaster and Mexborough by the signalman, and breakdown gangs were sent from both places, as well as constables from the Doncaster borough police force to render first aid. Dr. Mackay, the Doncaster police surgeon, was also summoned, and was early the scene.
Killed Instantly.
Railwaymen had meanwhile made efforts to rescue their unfortunate comrades, but when the breakdown gangs got them out it was seen that they must have been killed instantaneously, as they had been terribly injured. The bodies of Scorah and Quickfall were recovered without any great difficulty, but the shattered van had to raised by steam crane before John Brown’s remains could be reached. Afterwards the three bodies were removed by train to Doncaster Town End, and taken to the Three Horse Shoes Inn, Bentley, where the inquest will be held.
Driver Brown, the injured man, who was able to walk, was sent to Mexborough Montagu Hospital for treatment.
Beyond a severe shaking the driver, fireman, and guard of the second train escaped injury. The front portion of the first train, engine and seven wagons, continued its way for some time, the driver and fireman ignorant of the absence of the larger part of their load until they were pulled at another signal box.
Some damage was done so the permanent way, many of the iron chairs having been displaced and telegraph wires torn down, and the line was closed traffic, until 8.40 a.m., when it had been repaired sufficiently so enable it to be used again.
The Doucaster Avoiding line was constructed by the Great Central Railway Company to meet the congestion of mineral traffic that followed the creation a ring of collieries around Doncaster. It runs from Doncaster Town End through Newton Ferry, and rejoins the Great Central line just below Sprotborough.
Survivor’s Story
Interviewed at the Montagu Hospital, Mexberough, Charles Brown said he drove goods train to Thorne from Swinton on Wednesday night. Scorah was the fireman, and Jack Brown the guard. They were relieved at Thome men from Hull, and at Stainforth picked a goods train, in brake van of which they were to travel home. Just before the accident the three of them were sitting the brake van chatting together.
” Guard Brown was the same seat as I, and Scorah was sitting opposite. I got up to look out of the window to see where were. We did not, course, know that were the wrong road.
” Suddenly the crash came. A plank hit me on the chest, and I was smothered in dust and dazed for some time. I heard nothing of any mates. When I recovered I noticed small hole the side of the brake van, through which crawled. I got out and struck a match, for it was very dark. The driver of the train which had run us down picked me up and I was soon on a pilot engine on the way to hospital.”
Brown Rose cut on both sides of the head and arm, and his chest and ribs are bruised. Jack Brown leaves a widow and family. He is no relation to the injured man, Charles Brown. Ronald Scorah leaves a widow, but no children.
‘The inquest on the three victims will opened this morning. The Coroner proposes to take only evidence of identification and adjourn the proceedings for week.