by Jerges Cervantes

Created on: July 07, 2011   Last Updated: July 08, 2011

The St. Bedes railway disaster that took place on December 17, 1915 occurred at 7:20 in the morning. It was a Friday, and official reports state that nineteen people lost their lives to the accident, despite the initial fourteen. The accident took place on the once North Eastern Railway line between South Shields and Newcastle. 

The cause of the disaster is often stated as being the fault of the signalman. An official statement reported that a heavy goods train was coming up from the Tyne Dock, an engine car assisting its ascent from the rear of the train. Ordinarily, this train would leave the Tyne Dock and come into contact with the passenger line that crosses between South Shields and Newcastle. As the pilot engine waited to be signaled back into the docks, a 7.2 passenger train from South Shields to Newcastle was signaled in by the signalman. It then ran directly into the light engine goods train.

The force of the passenger train colliding with the light engine caused the leading coach cars to become buckled and derail from the track. It was at this moment that an empty passenger train also collided with the debris. Fires took place almost immediately after the crash, and the flames grew to such an extent and magnitude that helping the victims became impossible. Those that did not die in the initial collision almost certainly burned to death. While only three of the coaches were involved in the disaster, the engine cars were terribly mangled and beyond repair. Most of the lead cars were burnt to such an extent that only their iron frame remained as a haunting reminder of the event that had taken place.

Many people were found to be missing after the crash happened. The Chief Constable, William Scott, almost certainly perished in the disaster, but could not be found. A list of missing included twenty-four year old Albert Edward Burnett, fifty-four year old Andrew Davison Chipchase, Frederick Burrell, Councillor John Wright Johnson, age fifty-five, and even a fifteen year old apprentice draughtsman, Alban Sweeney. The initial report included ten confirmed deaths and twenty injured, with later fourteen deaths being reported, and a confirmed nineteen some time later when the wreckage was cleared.

A memorial was later erected at Harton Cemetery for those who died in the wreckage. The list of names includes a list of all those who died on that terrible day. 

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