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Full Details

Surname
KITCHEN
Forename
Thomas
Day
16
Month
11
Year
1914
Age
33
Occupation
Loco. Driver
Mine/Quarry Name
Gunnerton Quarry
Mineral Worked
Whin & Limestone
Owner
Mr J.J. Robson
Location
Gunnerton
County
Northumberland
Details of Event
Deceased was driving a locomotive with two full wagons of stone down a gradient of 3 inches to the yard. The first wagon was braked by a sprag (an iron pipe 5 inches in diameter and 2 feet long) placed in the wheel the end the second wagon had both brakes full on. Soon after starting down the hill the train gained speed, and after reversing the link motion and putting steam against the load it was found that the train had gone amain. Deceased jumped off in a small cutting and missing the top of the bank, fell back and was fatally crushed by the frame of the axle box. It was afterwards found that the sprag had come out of the first wagon wheel, though what caused it to do so was not ascertained. Three other men on the locomotive jumped clear.