Accident Record
This page is a record of accidents for which some information has been published, or has been directly taken from actual records of the railway held in the archives. It is also stated that some of the references used have gleaned the information from multiple sources.
The table records accidents and incidents up to the suspension of operations of the FR, that is until 1946. It exists to provide appropriate links within this wiki, and the source of information. More detailed records exist on some entries, accessed by clicking on the date reference.
Articles on the subject can also be accessed through the category "Accidents", which is linked at the bottom of the page.
Entries here also include incidents that were not logged in official returns to authorities. It is uncertain under what circumstances an accident required reporting to the Board of Trade. The rules a century or more ago were probably more lax than they are today. However, whilst Charles Easton Spooner was in charge it is felt that he never reported any until the one at Portmadoc on March 4th 1881 when someone was killed and he had no option. Very little has been found in the BoT records for this period.
The information source is identified by the three- or four-character code of the publication in which the data appears, as used on the Reference Sources page. Additional information may come from other sources – to see this click on the date in column 2. Codings commencing MTn are from the National Archives.
Dates are in format YYYY.MM.DD (all numeric) to keep in order. Where only a partial knowledge of the date exists then missing numbers replaced by xx.
Entries marked (*) need more details. Entries specifically marked FR2/575 come from an expansion of a list in Boyd. Very little detail is given, including no actual date.
| Source | Date | information |
|---|---|---|
| CDH | 1848.06.13 | John Jones strayed onto track and was killed by train, location unknown |
| RAIL 1057/2046/3 | 1858 | Runaway of slate wagons from bottom of Welsh Slate Co.'s incline |
| IHJF/022 | 1865.01.05 | Engine cleaner jumped off engine near Boston Lodge, tripped and was struck by the tender & first carriage. |
| NLW | 1865.05.27 | FR employee killed when wagon he was in derailed and hit a wall at Dolgaregddu |
| NLW | 1869.10.06 | Wagons derailed above Hafod y Llyn |
| NLW | 1871.06.14 | Child hit by train & killed at Boston Lodge |
| FR2/572 | 1872.08.29 | John Lloyd exited carriage and fell onto Cambrian platform |
| FR2/572 | 1872.10.28 | Passer-by had leg broken while climbing between wagons at Duffws |
| BoT | 1874.05.25 | Train arriving at Duffws, passenger opened door early, the door hit a point lever and then hit his head. |
| FR2/572 | 1874.06.11 | Derailment near Harbour Station |
| FR2/572 | 1874.06.19 | Major derailment due to vandalism in area of Cae Valley Wood – 16 waggons were thrown off the road. |
| FR2/572 | 1874.11.19 | Slate train collided with an engine and trucks. Derailed – major damage – no injuries |
| FR2/572 | 1874.12.04 | Near WSC wharf in Port – stone between points. Three waggons derailed. |
| FR2/573 | 1875.04.17 | Slate train collided with loaded waggons at Dinas. Derailed and slightly damaged |
| FR2/573 | 1875.05.13 | Runaway truck in a quarry arrived at Dinas, where it collided with wagons. |
| FR2/573 | 1875.06.04 | Tanygrisiau, James Spooner – Failure to open points properly caused front wheels to take a different road to the rear wheels. |
| FR2/573 | 1875.07.31 | Fireman injured when head came into contact with an overbridge at Tanygrisiau whilst the train was moving. |
| FR2/573 | 1875.08.14 | A passenger train engine (Welsh Pony) driving wheel axle broke on approach to Duffws. |
| FR2/573 | 1875.09.23 | Passenger train approaching Duffws collided with wagon |
| FR2/573 | 1875.11.05 | Passenger train leaving Duffws struck object too near line. Damage to van drawbar (aka drawgear), and scratching on a carriage |
| NLW | 1875.11.17 | Broken coupling causes runaway slate wagon to strike worker fatally. |
| NLW | 1875.11.29 | Inquest for runaway of 1875.11.17. |
| FR2/573 | 1875.12.31 | Wagon axle broke at Tanygrisiau, 3 wagons derailed causing track damage |
| FR2/573 | 1876.01.04 | Glan y Pwll crossing gate damaged by two runaway slate wagons. |
| FR2/573 | 1876.02.29 | Train leaving Penrhyn split in two when the drawbar of a carriage broke. |
| FR2/573 | 1876.03.20 | Shunting engine taking empties to Duffws ran over sheep on blind curve |
| FR2/574 | 1876.03.21 | Wagon in transit from Duffws to Dinas broke axle and derailed |
| FR2/574 | 1876.05.17 | Wagon enroute from Tanygrisiau and Tan y Bwlch broke axle |
| FR2/574 | 1876.05.24 | Wagon axle broke at Tan y Bwlch and more wagons derailed. Damage to cargo of slate |
| FR2/574 | 1876.09.21 | Timber truck left the rails and fell over, causing more to do the same. |
| FR2/574 | 1876.09.26 | Porter at Duffws injured his arm during shunting. |
| IHJF/044 | 1876.10.03 | Door of empty wagon opened in Moelwyn tunnel, derailing wagon and breaking several chairs. |
| IHJF/044 | 1876.10.11 | Mix wagons ran away from Duffws caused by guard not securing them. |
| IHJF/044 | 1876.10.19 | Loco (Mountaineer) hit stop block at Duffws – derailed and track damaged. |
| NLA | 1876.10.XX | Accident with dynamite while on railway construction work – 1 killed, 4 injured. |
| IHJF/044 | 1876.12.08 | Wheel came off wagon near to Harbour Station. |
| NLW | 1877.08.25 | Boy fell under truck and got killed. |
| FR2/575 | 1877.12.18 | David Evans got jammed between two slate wagons and received fatal injuries. |
| FR2/575 | 1877 | Goods train derailed. |
| FR2/575 | 1877 | Train travelled in the wrong direction through points. |
| FR2/575 | 1877 | Train hit cattle or other obstruction. |
| NGRSC1/86 | 1878.07.09 | Little Wonder in collision at Dolgaregddu Junction with Festiniog And Blaenau Railway locomotive |
| NLW | 1878.04.24 | Collision with sand wagon at Boston Lodge |
| FR2/575 | 1878 | Collision between goods trains. |
| FR2/575 | 1878 | Passenger train derailed. |
| FR2/575 | 1878 | Goods train derailed. |
| FR2/575 | 1878 | Goods train derailed. |
| FR2/575 | 1878 | Axle failure. |
| FR2/575 | 1878 | Axle failure. |
| FR2/575 | 1878 | One railway servant injured in accident to train. |
| FR2/575 | 1879 | Goods trains derailed. |
| FR2/575 | 1879 | Goods trains derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1879 | Wheel failure |
| FR2/575 | 1879 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1879 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1879 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1880 | No accidents reported |
| IHJF/xxx | 1881.03.04 | George Westley, clockwinder, crushed in Goods Shed. Subject to BoT report in National Archive file RAIL 1053/70. |
| HGJ102 | 1881.10.15 | Derailment of quarryman's train was the result of a crack in the axle inside the wheel boss. Report in National Archive file RAIL 1053/70. |
| FR2/575 | 1881 | Railway servant killed by train travelling in wrong direction through points. |
| FR2/575 | 1881 | Passenger train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1881 | Passenger train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1881 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1881 | Broken rails |
| FR2/575 | 1881 | Broken rails |
| FR2/575 | 1881 | Broken rails |
| FR2/575 | 1881.02.19 | Gales so great, one carriage blown off the line near Diphwys. |
| FR2/575 | 1882 | Passenger train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1882 | Goods train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1882 | Tyre failure |
| FR1/141 | 1882.02.06 | Taliesin, derailment on Harbour Station points |
| IHJF/073 | 1883.08.xx | Robert Jones, killed on line – £15 gratuity to widow |
| FR2/575 | 1883 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1883 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1883 | Railway servant killed walking on the line to or from home |
| FR2/575 | 1884 | Railway servant injured during shunting |
| FR2/575 | 1885 | Goods train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1886 | Collision between passenger trains |
| FR2/575 | 1886 | Passenger train derailment |
| FR2/575 | 1886 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1887 | Railway servant injured uncoupling vehicles |
| FR2/575 | 1888 | Train hit cattle or other obstruction |
| FR2/575 | 1889 | No accidents reported |
| FR2/575 | 1890 | Passenger train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1890 | Railway servant injured through accident to train - accident at Dduallt, points left reversed, morning workmen's train derailed Palmerston and 7 carriages overturned, fireman received burns 28 Nov 1890 |
| IHJF/071 | 1890.11.17 | David Ellis killed at Duffws whilst running to catch train – FR Co. paid £32 to cover all claims |
| FR2/575 | 1891 | No accidents reported |
| FR2/575 | 1892 | No accidents reported |
| FR1/158 | 1892.06.03 | Palmerston broke driving axle |
| IHJF/073 | 1893.02.xx | Platelayers' trolley "ran against" 2 children at Penrhyn – no names mentioned |
| FR2/575 | 1893 | Train hit cattle or other obstruction |
| FR2/575 | 1893 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1894 | Axle failure |
| FR1/158 | 1894.05.09 | Prince broke leading axle |
| FR1/158 | 1895.11.20 | Livingston Thompson ran over a sheep and was derailed |
| FR1/158 | 1895.11.20 | Palmerston ran into the rear of the quarryman's train at Tyler's Cutting (sic. Oakley's Curve) |
| FR2/575 | 1895 | Collision between a passenger train and a goods train |
| FR2/575 | 1896 | Trespasser killed |
| FR2/575 | 1896 | Passenger train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1896 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1896 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1896 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1896 | Axle failure |
| IHJF/074 | 1896.08.28 | Loco (Princess), tender and quarryman's carriage derailed approaching Penrhyn station. Subject to BoT report in National Archives file RAIL 1053/85 |
| IHJF/075 | 1897.07.23 | James Spooner and Palmerston, Collision at Dinas Junction. Subject to BoT report in National Archives file RAIL 1053/86 |
| FRHJ-101-10 | 1897.08.02 | Goods truck overbalanced and derailed at Tan y Bwlch. Reported in MT6 2124/5 |
| FRHJ-101-10 | 1897.08.19 | Covered wagon behind passenger train derailed at Tan y Bwlch. Reported in MT6 2124/5 |
| FR2/575 | 1897 | Railway servant injured getting on or off engines, waggons etc. |
| FR2/575 | 1897 | Collision between a passenger train and a goods train |
| FR2/575 | 1897 | Train ran through a level crossing |
| FR2/575 | 1898 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1899 | Passenger train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1899 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1900 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1900 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1900 | Axle failure |
| MT6 2124/5 | 1901.08.02 | Passenger trains derailed between Tan y Bwlch & Penrhyn |
| MT6 2124/5 | 1901.08.19 | Passenger trains derailed below Tan y Bwlch |
| FR2/575 | 1901 | Passenger trains derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1901 | Railway servant injured coupling or uncoupling vehicles |
| IHJF/084 | 1901.10.04 | Derailment at 6:15 p.m., near Coed Y Bleiddiau Halt. E. Druitt of the BoT investigated. |
| IHJF/084 | 1901.xx.xx | Two occasions of wagons derailing below TyB. No personnel named as involved. |
| FR2/575 | 1901 | Trespasser killed |
| FR2/575 | 1902 | Tyre failure |
| FR2/575 | 1902 | Passenger train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1902 | Goods train derailed |
| MT6/2124/5 | 1902.07.03 | Derailment of gravity train at Tan y Bwlch |
| IHJF/084 | 1902.xx.xx | Three occasions of wagons derailing on successive days. No personnel named as involved |
| FR2/575 | 1903 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1903 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1903 | Axle failure |
| NLW | 1904.01.15 | Train hit rock at Dduallt |
| FR2/575 | 1904 | Train ran through level crossing |
| FR2/575 | 1904 | Train ran through level crossing |
| FR2/575 | 1904 | Miscellaneous train in motion accident |
| FR2/575 | 1904 | Dangerous slip of cutting or embankment |
| FR2/575 | 1904 | Axle failure |
| IHJF/085 | 1904.02.xx | Storm derailed carriage at works end of Cob. |
| IHJF/084 | 1905.xx.xx | A breakaway on Rhiwbach Tramway. Tried to claim against FR – received £85 |
| NLW | 1905.08.18 | Train collided with a trolley at Tanygrisiau |
| FR2/575 | 1905 | Trespasser injured |
| FR2/575 | 1905 | Passenger injured (see next item) |
| FR2/575 | 1905 | Train ran through level crossing |
| FR2/575 | 1905 | Tyre failure |
| FR2/575 | 1906 | Railway servant injured getting on or off engines or waggons |
| FR2/575 | 1906 | Railway servant injured in 'miscellaneous' accident whilst working on the line |
| FR2/575 | 1906 | Railway servant injured in shunting accident |
| FR2/575 | 1906 | Railway servant injured falling off engine or van at rest |
| FR2/575 | 1906 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1906 | Coupling failure |
| FR2/575 | 1906 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1907 | Trespasser injured |
| FR2/575 | 1907 | Railway servant injured by stumbling whilst walking on the line |
| FR2/575 | 1907 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1907 | Dangerous slip of cutting or embankment |
| FR2/575 | 1907 | Railway servant injured whilst attending machinery of engine in motion |
| FR2/575 | 1907 | Railway servant suffered 'miscellaneous' injury |
| FR2/575 | 1908 | Railway servant injured whilst coupling or uncoupling vehicles |
| FR2/575 | 1908 | Railway servant injured whilst coupling or uncoupling vehicles |
| FR2/575 | 1908 | Railway servant suffered 'miscellaneous' injury |
| FR2/575 | 1908 | Railway servant injured whilst attending engine at rest |
| FR2/575 | 1908 | Railway servant injured by the falling of rails, sleepers, etc. |
| FR2/575 | 1908 | Railway servant injured by 'miscellaneous' on track! |
| IHJF/084 | 1908.09.23 | Horse belonging to a Blaenau Ffestiniog hotel owner was injured at Glan y Pwll |
| IHJF/084 | 1909.10.26 | 30 tons of earthworks – landslip near Llechwedd Coed – spotted by first up train – no injuries |
| FR2/575 | 1909 | Railway servant injured whilst coupling or uncoupling vehicles |
| FR2/575 | 1909 | Railway servant injured working cranes or capstans |
| FR2/575 | 1909 | Railway servant injured falling from ladder or scaffold |
| FR2/575 | 1909 | Railway servant injured 'by miscellany' ! |
| FR2/575 | 1909 | Railway servant injured 'by miscellany' ! |
| FR2/575 | 1910 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1910 | Tyre failure |
| IHJF/084 | 1910.07.04 | Accident at Dduallt – no further detail given |
| IHJF/084 | 1910.09.13 | Accident, near Tan y Bwlch, involving train of slates from a number of quarries. |
| IHJF/084 | 1911.07.19 | Palmerston broke driving axle |
| FR2/575 | 1911 | Railway servant injured whilst coupling or uncoupling vehicles |
| FR2/575 | 1911 | Railway servant killed getting on or falling off engines, waggons, etc |
| FR2/575 | 1911 | Railway servant injured stumbling whilst walking on line |
| FR2/575 | 1911 | Tyre failure |
| FR2/575 | 1912 | Railway servant injured whilst attending to the machinery of engines in motion |
| FR2/575 | 1912 | Railway servant injured by the falling of waggon doors, lamps, bales, etc. |
| FR2/575 | 1912 | Railway servant injured 'miscellaneously' |
| FR2/575 | 1912 | Passenger train derailment |
| FR2/575 | 1912 | Train running through gates or other obstacle |
| FR2/575 | 1912 | Tyre failure |
| IHJF/084 | 1912.01.22 | Up 06.35 Passenger train (Livingston Thompson) derailed at Tan y Bwlch |
| FR2/575 | 1913 | One railway servant injured by falling of rails, sleepers, etc. |
| FR2/575 | 1913 | Railway servant injured at work on line |
| FR2/575 | 1913 | Railway servant injured 'miscellaneously' |
| FR2/575 | 1913 | Passenger train derailment |
| FR2/575 | 1914 | Passenger train derailment |
| FR2/575 | 1914 | Railway servant injured coupling or uncoupling vehicle |
| FR2/575 | 1914 | Railway servant injured 'miscellaneously' |
| FR2/575 | 1915 | Goods train derailed |
| - | 1915.10.21 | Accident on Down Train |
| FR2/575 | 1915 | Train ran through level crossing gates |
| FR2/575 | 1916 | NO RETURNS PUBLISHED |
| XD97/17940 | 1916.11.17 | 8:30 a.m. passenger train from Portmadoc 17 November 1916 – tree blown down in front of engine, no one injured. |
| FR2/575 | 1917 | NO RETURNS PUBLISHED |
| FR2/575 | 1918 | NO RETURNS PUBLISHED |
| FR2/575 | 1919 | NO RETURNS PUBLISHED |
| FR2/575 | 1919 | Welsh Pony off the track Duffws station. Signal fitter had repaired points and failed to adjust the blades afterwards. |
| FR2/575 | 1919 | Bull came through gate of Sandpit Siding at Boston Lodge and was struck by a passenger train. Owing to a long train of wagons on the siding, the gate had been left open. |
| FR2/575 | 1919 | Palmerston and James Spooner derailed at Harbour station in the same week |
| FR2/575 | 1919 | A month later, James Spooner burst a cylinder whilst starting the 4:15 p.m. train from Blaenau, a mishap possibly caused by a crack due to the Harbour derailment. |
| FR2/575 | 1920 | No accidents reported |
| FR2/575 | 1920 | Owing to a broken axle on a gravity train, twenty-two wagons fell into the field at Dduallt. |
| FR2/575 | 1920 | On the same day two gravity trains collided in Minffordd station (one being stationary) and three vehicles including a brake van were written off for rebuilding completely. |
| FR2/575 | 1920 | Owing to a rock fall at the Maenofferen Quarry, seven slate wagons were buried; some were only fit for scrap (Nos. 230, 468, 616 and 859). The remainder might be rebuilt. Coal wagons were sent up to the quarry to collect the pieces but Maenofferen filled them with their own scrap and the F.R. discovered them at Glaslyn Foundry. |
| FR2/575 | 1920 | It was said at this time that every wagon which went out to Rhiwbach came back damaged. |
| FR2/575 | 1921 | One goods train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1922 | One goods train derailed |
| FR2/575 | 1922 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1922 | Axle failure |
| FR2/575 | 1923 | No accident statistics published after this date for individual minor railways |
| WH2/66 | 1924.07.01 | Down train split in Moelwyn Tunnel due to misunderstanding of NWNGR coupling (Palmerston & Moel Tryfan) |
| XD97/16060 | 1925.09.25 | Four-wagon runaway derailed at Tan y Bwlch by Will Jones |
| FR | 1926.05.08 | Accident at Penrhyn Crossing. Fitter alighted train and fell down embankment |
See also[edit]
- Accident Record (Non FR) for other associated railway accidents
- Miscellaneous
References[edit]
The above list is taken from various sources including:
FRHJ = Festiniog Railway Heritage Group Journal
IHJF = Johnson, Peter (2007). An Illustrated History of the Festiniog Railway. Hersham: Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 0-860936-03-1. OCLC 180463433.
FR1 = Boyd, James I.C. (1975) [1959]. The Festiniog Railway 1800 - 1974; Vol. 1 - History and Route. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-8536-1167-X. OCLC 2074549. FR2 = Boyd, James I.C. (1975) [1959]. The Festiniog Railway 1800 - 1974; Vol. 2 Locomotive and Rolling Stock and Quarry Feeders. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 085361-168-8.
WH1 = Boyd, James I.C. (1988). Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire, Vol. 1. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-365-6.
WH2 = Boyd, James I.C. (1989). Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire, Vol. 2, The Welsh Highland Railway. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-383-4.
MTn = National Archive file No.
RAILn = National Archive file No.
XD97 = FR archives. Gwynedd Archive ref no
NLW = National Library of Wales
NLA = National Library of Australia
CDH - Caernarfon & Denbigh Herald