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Full Details

Surname
MANN
Forename
William Ernest
Day
22
Month
11
Year
1912
Age
22
Occupation
Loco. Fireman
Mine/Quarry Name
Bishop Middleham Quarry
Mineral Worked
Limestone
Owner
Pease & Partners Ltd
Location
Bishop Middleham
County
Durham
Details of Event
Some loaded railway waggons were standing in a gullet which was only wide enough for their passage. It was the duty of the two men to couple the waggons together and then to signal to the locomotive driver to move away. On this occasion deceased gave the signal and the train moved away, but was stopped almost at once by the other fireman, who discovered that deceased had fallen between a waggon and the gullet side. It is a matter of surmise as to how he got into this position, but it is thought that he was manipulating an end brake with his foot, and in doing so allowed his body to protrude beyond the waggon side. As a result of this accident it was decided to widen the gullet at one side, and to make a hard and fast rule that the firemen shall get clear of the waggons before giving the signal to move away.