On the 26^th May, 1879, Brighton Driver John Howells and fireman Clifford Ford working engine No. 296 'Osborne' had a lucky escape when in charge of the 8.30 a.m. ex-Hayward Heath, which was formed of seven decrepit four-wheelers and a brake van. At the entrance to Brighton station No. 296 Osborne was travelling at 20 to 25 M.P.H., and could not be stopped before hitting the buffers, because Driver Howells had not discovered earlier that, although the engine carried the usual Westinghouse fittings, all the carriages were unbraked. Owning to the lightness of the train, the engine hand brake had been employed at all previous stations and it was only when attempting to make up a two minute loss by a smart platform stop at Brighton that disaster struck. Seventeen passengers complained of bruising, but no one was seriously injured on account of the train being so crowded that little space was available for individuals to be flung about.