Railway accident on the 

L.B.S.C.R.

Railway accidents on the 

L.B.S.C.R.

from http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk

Railway accidents on the 

L.B.S.C.R.

from http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk

  STORIES FROM THE SHOVEL

extracted from the R.C.T.S. book of L.B.S.C.R. Locomotice Vol. 2

Tunbridge Wells Driver Osgood whilst working locomotive No. 273 Dornden on 17th December, 1884, when they were working the late night Eastbourne – Tunbridge Wells train. At Heathfield, Major Edwards, a wealthy landowner of Groombridge, ran on to the platform just as the guard was signalling the right away, so he was hurriedly assist into a first-class compartment before the staff noticed he was very drunk. At Mayfield the omission was quickly remedied for he complained bitterly of not having a ticket and on one being supplied he held up the train while he visited the toilet. On returning to his compartment the guard wisely locked both doors and with the crew further thought to the matter until between Rotherfield and Eridge, when the Major suddenly appeared on the footplate complaining that a large dog had chased him out of the carriage window. With understanding the fireman drove off the dog with his shovel, while the driver made their guest comfortable as possible on their coats, whereupon he quickly fell asleep. At Eridge a hasty inspection of the train showed that the compartment had been left through the window and passage to the footplate made along the running boards of two carriages, a feat no sober man could have performed in daylight. Needless to say no fierce dog discovered! The guard, stationmaster and driver agreed that the footplate was the safest place until Groombridge stop, so the train was dispatched and in due course reached that station. There the Major refused to wake up and had to be taken to Tunbridge Wells where a signal stop was made some four hundred yards from the platform. Coming to life quite suddenly the unwanted guest threw off the coats and flung himself off the footplate shouting “Groombridge, Groombridge, all change”. All was silent and as the signal changed to green the train was taken into the station where lanterns were obtained and a search party organised to collect the body. On reaching the scene a stream swollen with flood water was seen at the foot of a steep embankment down which various marks showed the Major's hurried descent. No body could be found, so the course of the stream was followed until it passed in a culvert under the railway line. The search was thereupon abandoned because no one considered a human being could be alive in such a ragging torrent. On return to the station a messenger was sent on a bicycle to the police and the business of stabling the train and the engine commenced, while the guard sat in the stationmaster's office preparing his report. Just as the police arrived and the story was being told, the very young and inexperienced booking clerk called assistance saying “A drunken tramp won't believe that the last train has left for Groombridge and he keeps beating off a huge dog I can't see”. For a moment silence reigned in the office, then there was a concerned rush for the ticket hall where stood the missing Major Edwards, covered in mud, soaking wet and still drunk but also very much alive. After the provision of dry clothing and black coffee, he was sent home by special train little worse for the escapade. Later on learning that the Company was penalising the men concerned, he paid their fines and sent a cheque for £25 to the Widows & Orphan Fund.