Single Record

Full Details

Surname

CAMPBELL

Forename

Alexander

Day

30

Month

07

Year

1906

Age

15

Occupation

Pony driver

Mine/Quarry Name

East Tanfield

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

James Joicey & Co. Ltd

Location

Tanfield

County

Durham

Details of Event

He was driving font empty tubs inbye on the rolleyway of the South-West district, in the Brockwell seam. The road, nearly level was in good order and laid with rails weighing 28 lbs. to the yard, with fished joints. The accident occurred in a siding 29 yards long, 11 feet wide and 6 feet high, which was timbered by balks placed about 3 feet apart, 10.5 feet long and 10 inches broad supported by props at each end the props were 19 inches from the rail at the bottom and were 11 inches clear of the tubs. Another driver going outbye was waiting in the siding for deceased to pass and he stated that deceased’s pony was going slowly this driver left the siding as soon as deceased's set was clear of the crossing, and he knew nothing of the accident. The next driver coming outbye found the set standing the pony hung on and the first two tubs off the way to the left; deceased was in the first tub and a balk had fallen on his neck pinning it to the edge of the tub a stone from the roof, 4 feet by 3 feet and with a maximum thickness of 8 inches, lay on the balk, and a smaller stone, 20 inches square by 6 inches thick, lay in the tub. The tubs had been derailed either by the pony swerving or more probably something had fallen on the rails and, coming in contact with a prop had drawn it out allowing the balk and stone above it to fall. The road was constantly travelled by the officials, who observed no defect. The Local Inspectors, after carefully giving all necessary details concluded their report thus. ‘The case, so far as we could see, was purely an accident.'