At the Conference held in London, in November, 1866, were the result of careful and earnest deliberation, and are so plain that any preliminary observations may appear superfluous; a brief summary of their import, with a few remarks on the nature of the Society itself, may not, however, be out of place
AMALGAMATION
In 1867 a scheme for the amalgamation of the Brighton Railway with the South Eastern was debated with much acrimony and ultimately rejected by the former company’s shareholders.
After fifty-six years this fusion became a fact in 1923.
It was the locomotive drivers and firemen who had the industrial muscle, though, and it was not long before a strike by 400 men of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway became the first to result in train services being disrupted. They downed tools in March 1867 over their meagre daily pay, which was just 7s 6d for a driver and 4s 6d for a fireman. The company’s attempt to recruit replacements failed and virtually all its services were stopped, including the lucrative race trains for the first spring meeting at Epsom.
The engraving at Balcombe in October 2011.
Railway accidents on the
L.B.S.C.R.
from http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk
Ford Arun Bridge 4th May 1867
no mention of Enginemen
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London Bridge 7th May 1867
no mention of Enginemen
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THE LOCO WITH A MIND OF IT'S OWN
On the 29th May, 1867 when Driver Marley (New Cross?) was unable to close the regulator of a 'Craven Standard Passenger 2-4-0 loco' No. 185 as it run into Brighton station with the 8.0 a.m. down express. Despite a full application of the tender brake, and assistance from the guard, the speed could not be reduced below 20 to 25 m.p.h. Fortunately, this train was booked to call at the ticket platform before running on to the terminus, which gave just sufficient time and distance for both crew members to force the regulator closed, and then reverse the engine and apply steam. The buffers were hit, but only at a walking pace and no serious injuries were suffered. Subsequently the driver, fireman and guards were fined for ‘running into the Brighton ticket platform dangerously and at too high a speed’, the regulator on No. 185 having been found in good order.
Driver Marley, however was not satisfied, and found on other occasions that the regulator failed to close completely as well as at times opening slightly on its own. Complaining of this eccentricity, he was not believed and no thorough investigation was made until there came the day when No.185 had to be moved on New Cross shed by the Staff. The regulator opened with ease and then stuck. Moving quite smartly the engine bumped into a line of coke wagons and propelled them towards the foremen’s office, from whence this gentleman appeared at high speed, warned by much shouting that all was not well. He just managed to leap clear before the coke wagons and the gently puffing loco enveloped the area. Halted by the debris, the culprit’s regulator was closed. The offending item was removed forthwith, and since nothing could still be found amiss a new one was fitted with apparent success, since no further mentioned appears in the accident reports. One hopes that those fined received a full pardon and their money back.
Ducks (and Drakes) of Directors
WW, artist, and Dalziel, engraver. Fun 5 (29 June 1867): 167.
Text beneath caption: Chorus (Air:— “That’s the way the money goes”): — “Fling away, boys! Lots more where that came from!” W.W., artist. Dalziel, engraver. Source: Hathi Digital Library Trust web version of a copy in the University of Minnesota library. Click on image to enlarge it.
A blindfolded John Bull, symbol of England, holds a sack of money from which the directors of railway boards take and hurl away coins as a locomotive marked “Inquiry” arrives
HAYWARD'S HEATH
SATURDAY 27th JULY, 1867
An accident of a very shocking character occurred near this station at Midnight on Thursday. The down goods train left Haywards Heath Station at 11.52, there being upon the engine the driver (whose name we did not hear) and William Best, the fireman.
As the train neared the tunnel the metals were very slippery and prevented the wheels from biting. The fireman Best consequently went round to the front of the engine for the purpose of opening a box to allow the sand to run down on to the rails. The driver saw him go, but had no idea that he had not returned till the engine got out of the tunnel, when turning to speak to him saw that he was gone. He immediately stopped the engine and informed the guard, who went back with a lamp and found the body of the unfortunate young man lying in the four-foot way shockingly mutilated and quite dead.
The remains were conveyed back to the station. The heel-pelt of one of the deceased’s boots was found a few feet from the body, and this gives rise to the supposition that his heel was caught by the large driving wheel which tore the pelt off and threw the deceased over on to the rails. The train passed over the deceased, taking off the left arm close to the shoulder and left leg The poor fellow must have rolled over and bled to death as he lay.
Sussex Agricultural Express
Railway accident on the
L.B.S.C.R.
from http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk
London Victoria 5th October 1867
no mention of Enginemen
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Streatham Common 3rd December 1867
no mention of Enginemen
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