Accident at Thirsk

From the Arthur Trevena collection of photographs. Wreckage from the crashed Scotch Express at Thirsk, North Yorkshire, 1892.

This accident was caused because signalman Holmes was asleep! He had been up all night looking after his sick child, who died in the morning. He had asked for the day off but his request was refused.

Holmes failed to change the signals and the Scotch Express crashed into another train, killing 8 people. He was found guilty of manslaughter but was later acquitted.