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Last Night’s Train Crash -Two Coal Trains in Collision Near Thurnscoe

January 1951

South Yorkshire Times, Saturday January 6th 1951

Last Night’s Train Crash

Man Sees Son Killed

Two Coal Trains in Collision Near Thurnscoe

A Father saw his son killed when two coal trains collided on the Dearne Valley section of British Railways between Thurnscoe and Gt. Houghton last night. There were no other casualties.

The dead man was 27-years-old Geoffrey Fawcett, fireman on the same train on which his father, Harry Fawcett, aged 55, of 19,  Westley Street, Belle Vile, Wakefield, was guard. The dead man lived at 25, Barden Road, East Moor Estate, Wakefield. He was married.

The collision occurred about 400 yards on the Great Houghton side of Vicarage Crossing, Thurnscoe, on a down line between Doncaster and Wakefield, serving goods traffic.

Both Lines Blocked

The driver of the rear train, Harold Whitham (58), of Potter Avenue, Lipsett, Wakefield, escaped uninjured Clifford Garner, guard on the front train, although suffering from shock. carried on to Great Houghton in the front engine, which was undamaged

Both lines were completely blocked, and two further coal trains were held up. Rescue equipment was summoned from Wakefield. Several trucks were shattered. and spilled coal covered both lines

First intimation of the smash was received at Goldthorpe Police Station from Grimethorpe. Emergency messages were sent to local hospitals and an ambulance from Wath conveyed the dead man to Goldthorpe.

Four doctors were on the scene of the crash within a short time of the message being received.

Hospital Warned

Warning was given to Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, at 7.15 p m. Within minutes they had telephoned Wath Ambulance Station and despatched ambulances to the scene of the accident. The Casualty Department had been prepared, warmed, and instruments made ready. Two telephonists waited at the hospital switchboard. A nurse, in anticipation of extra work, snatched a lightning supper and prepared to miss her “off-duty ” Doctors stood ready

At 8.50, after close on two hours’ waiting for casualties, a second telephone message came through to the hospital. It told the waiting staff that there had been only one injury, to a guard, and that he would not be taken into the Mexborough hospital.