GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Henley in Arden - gwrha759

View of GWR 4-4-0 Atbara class No 3382 'Mafeking' lying severly damaged on its side after the accident at Henley-in-Arden. The accident occurred on Saturday 24th June 1911 when the 11:00 pm express summer excursion from Wolverhampton to Weston-super-Mare crashed through the bay buffers at Henley-in-Arden at a speed of approximately 40mph. The locomotive was deemed damaged beyond repair and condemned, although it was not officially withdrawn until September 1911. Fortunately no one was killed in the accident, but the driver, fireman and eleven passengers were injured. The six coach express excursion was scheduled to pass through Henley-in-Arden station just two minutes after the last local train of the day had terminated there.

Although the express was running late, the local train, a Steam Railmotor from Moor Street, was held back at a previous station to allowed the express to pass ahead. At Henley–in-Arden signalman Carter was still expecting the local train first and in preparation had set the points and signals for the bay platform. When the express excursion arrived it therefore crossed the up line into the bay platform and travelling too fast to stop, the locomotive careered through the buffers at the end of the bay, finally coming to rest on its side partially on the up line just beyond the station. An enquiry determined signalman Carter was at fault and the head shut at the end of the bay platform was later extended.

Robert Ferris

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