Accident at Preston, Lancashire

From the Arthur Trevena collection of photographs. Railway accident on the London & North Western Railway at Preston, Lancashire, 13 July 1896. The train has derailed and some of the carriages have been smashed.

This accident happened because the driver, who had never driven this route before ignored speed restrictions and travelled too quickly down a curving section of track.

Rivalry between railway companies on competing routes to Scotland meant that safety was sometimes compromised in favour of speed. These 'Races to the North' were abandoned following the Preston accident.