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EXPRESS ENGINE BREAKS DOWN AT LANCASTER.
Following the extraordinary accident which occurred to a London and North-Western Railway express at Hest Bank last week. Another mishap was experienced early Sunday morning, when the engine of the 10 o'clock express from Euston (a mail train) broke down in the immediate vicinity of Carlisle Bridge, which spans the River Lune at Lancaster at a considerable height. The “relief mail train," as it is locally known, left Preston at 3-15 a.m. on Sunday, and passed through Lancaster Castle Station about 3.45 a,m. Just beyond the chief Lancaster signal cabin the driving axle of the engine broke, and this resulted in the side rods breaking off, displacing the front right wheel. The driver, belonging to Crewe, immediately he found something was wrong reversed his engine and applied the brakes, bringing the train to a standstill. The train consisted of nine coaches, and there were 35 passengers, in addition to the staff of letter sorting clerks, which always man a mail train. Fortunately there is a check rail right across the bridge, and this undoubtedly helped keep the train on the metals, as the broken axle tore up the sleepers and ballast to the permanent way, before the engine was stopped alongside the allotment gardens off Morecambe road, close to the Carlisle Bridge. It was then found that only one wheel of the engine was off the rails. It was, inside, and considerable damage had been done to the permanent way. Fishplates and chairs had been broken off, and bolts were loosened by the broken crank axle. The passengers were naturally alarmed, but were soon re-assured. They were transferred to the 11.45 p.m. from Euston about 4.30 p.m. It came alongside and they entered the other train, proceeding on their journey, Mr. Brooks (the Lancaster Station-master) seeing them off safely. The breakdown gang were called out, and the work of clearing the damaged engine away was carried out under the direction of Mr. B. C. Humphreys (assistant superintendent), Lancaster; Mr. J.H.Thurstan, resident engineer in the Lancaster and Carlisle District; and Mr. Louis locomotive superintendent, Preston. The broken an engine was taken back by the Preston gang; and the permanent way staff were employed till Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock putting the line in order. Meanwhile a single line was worked, but the traffic on Sunday is not heavy so that the inconvenience caused was not so great as it otherwise would have been. The fact that so little damage was done was the subject of general comment amongst the railway staff. EXPRESS ENGINE BREAKS DOWN AT LANCASTER.. - Lancaster Guardian 3rd August 1912
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