A collision, that occurred on the 26th December, at Portsmouth Harbour station, on the London and South-Western and London, Brighton, and South Coast Companies’ Joint Railway.
The London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company s train which was due to arrive there at 6.40 p.m. ran into a London and South-Western Company’s train which was to leave the Harbour station at 7 p.m.
The engine-driver of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Company’s train was the only person that was hurt. He was shaken, and one of his ribs was injured.
In order to meet the requirements of the Christmas traffic, the London and South- Western Company’s train, which is timed to leave the Harbour station at 6.55 p.m., was divided into two parts. The first portion had left, and the second portion, which consisted of an engine and tender and seven vehicles, was standing on No. 2 line, at the arrival platform, waiting to be put across to No. 4 line, which is the Dockyard road, from whence it was to start for Waterloo, when it was run into by the London, Brighton, and South Coast Company’s train from London.
This train consisted of an engine and tender and 12 vehicles, the first and last being break-vans, with a guard in each. The engine, tender, and all the vehicles were fitted with the Westinghousc continuous air-pressure break, which was controlled by the engine-driver.
The train was stopped at the Portsmouth Harbour station homersignal, which is about 270 yards from the end of the platform, and after being kept there about five minutes this signal, as well as the platform signal, which is 160 yards nearer to the station, was lowered for the train to run into the station.
As the engine-driver arrived near the signal-cabin, about 50 yards from the platform, he observed the head lights of the engine of a train which was standing at the platform on No. 2 line, on which he was running. He stated that his train was running at a speed of about five miles an hour at the time ; that he applied the Westinghouse break at once, and reduced the speed of his train to about two miles an hour, before his engine struck the engine of the London and South-Western Company s train, which was standing about 50 yards from the London end of the platform.
The buffer heads of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Company s engine were broken, and the framing of this engine was cracked. The buffer-plank and angle-irons of the London and South-Western Company’s engine were broken, and the draw-bar of the break-van, which was next to the tender, was broken, but no other damage was done to either train, and no vehicle left the rails. The railway falls on a gradient of l in 80 as it approaches Portsmouth Harbour station. The station is well signalled ; the signals are interlocked with the points, and are worked from a raised cabin, which is situated about 50 yards from the London end of the Harbour Station platform.
The view along the line is limited by the curve of the railway a»d the town buildings at the side of it, but this in no way contributed to the collision, except in preventing the driver of the London, Brighton, and South Coast train from seeingthe London and South-Western train sooner.

The evidence is as follows :

Mr. Henry Sparshott, station inspector at Portsmouth Harbour joint station on the 26th December, stated : A London and South-Western train arrived at the Harbour station platform about 6.45 p.m. The passengers had got out, and the train had been standing at the platform six or seven minutes, when it was run into by the London, Brighton, and South Coast Company's train from London which is due at the Harbour station at 6.40 p.m. As it was Christmas time there were two relief trains that occupied the the platform lines, and I had to get rid of one of these trains before I could move the London and South-Western train, which was due to start for Waterloo at 7 0 p.m. I intended to start the London and South-Western 7.0 p.m. from the Dockyard Road, which is at the north side of the station. I think the London, Brighton, and South Coast train was running about. 10 miles an hour when the driver saw the London and South-Western train about 30 or 40 yards in front of him. He applied the Westinghouse break, and the speed was reduced to about five miles an hour, possibly less, when it struck the London and South-Western train, which was standing on No.2 road. I have been 24 years in the railway service, and four years station-inspector at Portsmouth Harbour station. The London and South-Western engine was attached to its train, and the two engines come in contact. No vehicle was thrown off the rails, and no passengers complained of being hurt. 1 was on the platform at the north side at the time. I was close to the signal-cabin when the London, Brighton, and South Coast train pulled up at the stop-signal. I heard the driver whistle, but I said to the signalman Let him whistle, he cannot get in until I get the 6.55 train away. I then went and shut the doors of the 6.55, and tried to hurry the driver of the train to get away. While I was doing this the London, London, Brighton, and South Coast train. I could Brighton, and South Coast train came in. 

Alfred Griffin stated : I was engine-driver of the South Coast engine was only about half a dozen yards 4.0 p.m. train from London Bridge on the 26th from my engine at the time. I jumped on to theDecember. My train consisted of an engine and tender and 12 coaches; the first and last were break vans, with a guard in each. All the vehicles of my train are fitted with the Westinghouse continuous air pressure break. I had been standing about five minutes at Portsmouth Harbour station stop signal when it was lowered, and I moved my train on. I was moving at a speed of about five miles an hour, and had got to about the end of the platform when I heard the inspector call out, Train standing there. I had seen the train on my road. I had applied the Westinghouse break just before the station inspector shouted. The train was about 50 yards from me. I think my speed was reduced to about two miles an hour when my engine struck the engine of the London and South-Western train which was standing at the platform. I broke the buffer-heads and cracked the framing of my engine ; no other damage was done to my train,and no vehicle left the rails. I have been 19 years in the London, Brighton, and South Coast Company s service, and five years a driver. I found that my continuous break took effect the moment I applied it. I had about 60 lbs. pressure on the train pipes and 75 lbs. in the reservoirs. This is the pressure I always work at. If I had not had the Westinghouse break the collision must have been much more serious. I and my fireman remained oa the engine. I was shaken and one of my ribs was injured. I was off duty seven days. My fireman was not hurt.