Accident Reports
Improvements in railway safety have generally been the result of lessons learnt from accidents. The Board of Trade was responsible for accident investigations from the early days of railways for which it employed officers from the Royal Engineers.
Responsibility passed to the newly created Ministry of Transport during 1919 and more recently to the RAIB (Rail Accident Investigation Branch).
One notable feature of earlier accident reports was the speed with which the investigations were completed and reports produced – in stark contrast to today!
The links below are in alphabetical location order followed by date order when there is more than one accident at the same place. Click on the link to open a pdf copy of the report.
Accident_-_Accrington_4_March_1870
Accident_-_Accrington_22_March_1871
Accident_-_Accrington_3_November_1871
Accident_-_Accrington_31_July_1872
Accident_-_Accrington_2_February_1874
Accident_-_Accrington_2_September_1874
Accident_-_Accrington_25_September_1874
Accident_-_Accrington_11_October_1874
Accident_-_Accrington_20_March_1875
Accident_-_Accrington_2_September_1876
Accident_-_Accrington_17_July_1913
Accident_-_Adlington_Junction_28_July_1896.pdf
Accident_-_Agecroft_Junction_3_August_1872
Accident_-_Alderbottom_29_December_1857
Accident_-_Appley_Bridge_19_May_1858.pdf
Accident_-_Ashton-u-Lyne_6_March_1863.pdf
Accident_-_Ashton_17_December_1870
Accident_-_Bacup_9_October_1867
Accident_-_Bacup_18_November_1871
Accident_-_Bacup_12_July_1883.pdf
Accident_-_Bacup_27_December_1895.pdf
Accident_-_Bamber_Bridge_21_June_1864.pdf
Accident_-_Bamber_Bridge_30_November_1907
Accident_-_Barkfield_Lane_2_October_1934.pdf
Accident_-_Barnsley_Branch_27_October_1869.pdf
Accident_-_Bellfield_4_January_1854.pdf
Accident_-_Bellfield_19_November_1858.pdf
Accident_-_Berry_Brow_1_April_1872
Accident_-_Berry_Brow_11_September_1886.pdf
Accident_-_Bescar_Lane_11_December_1860
Accident_-_Bescar_9_May_1971.pdf
Accident_-_Blackburn_6_November_1871
Accident_-_Blackburn_20_May_1872
Accident_-_Blackburn_11_November_1875.pdf
Accident_-_Blackburn_11_March_1877
Accident_-_Blackburn_5_June_1884.pdf
Accident_-_Blackpool_3_August_1863.pdf
Accident_-_Blue_Pits_17_March_1849.pdf
Accident_-_Blue_Pits_13_August_1860
Accident_-_Blue_Pits_6_March_1861.pdf
Accident_-_Blue_Pits_2_October_1871
Accident_-_Bolton_23_August_1852.pdf
Accident_-_Bolton_13_August_1855.pdf
Accident_-_Bolton_13_January_1859
Accident_-_Bolton_29_August_1871
Accident_-_Bolton_13_December_1873.pdf
Accident_-_Bolton_13_January_1875
Accident_-_Bolton_6_August_1875
Accident_-_Bolton_18_September_1885.pdf
Accident_-_Bolton_12_October_1886
Accident_-_Bolton_11_January_1891
Accident_-_Bolton_3_December_1899
Accident_-_Bolton_16_March_1908
Accident_-_Bolton_29_August_1871
Accident_-_Bootle_Lane_26_July_1852
Accident_-_Bootle_Lane_19_September_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Bowling_Tunnel_6_May_1859
Accident_-_Bowling_Tunnel_7_March_1867
Accident_-_Bowling_Tunnel_24_October_1901
Accident_-_Bradford_16_January_1871
Accident_-_Bradford_26_January_1871
Accident_-_Bradford_17_October_1872
Accident_-_Bradford_11_January_1883
Accident_-_Bradford_10_April_1884.pdf
Accident_-_Bradford_18_November_1899
Accident_-_Bradford_12_February_1902
Accident_-_Brierfield_30_October_1876
Accident_-_Brighouse_21_October_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Brighouse_27_March_1874
Accident_-_Brighouse_15_November_1875
Accident_-_Brighouse_28_November_1900
Accident_-_Brindlee_Sidings_5_July_1872
Accident_-_Brindle_Heath_21_December_1890
Accident_-_Bullfield_Bolton_4_November_1851
Accident_-_Burnley_12_July_1852
Accident_-_Burnley_2_September_1871
Accident_-_Burnley_13_August_1873.pdf
Accident_-_Burnley_20_April_1897
Accident_-_Burnley_20_April_1905
Accident_-_Burscough_21_January_1850
Accident_-_Burscough_29_May_1858.pdf
Accident_-_Burscough_Bridge_20_June_1868
Accident_-_Bury_14_February_1852.pdf
Accident_-_Bury_11_July_1855.pdf
Accident_-_Bury_8_November_1861.pdf
Accident_-_Bury_10_October_1871
Accident_-_Bury_26_February_1872
Accident_-_Bury_4_February_1874
Accident_-_Bury_1_November_1875
Accident_-_Bury_Hogside_Colliery_17_January_1850.pdf
Accident_-_Bury_Knowsley_Street_19_January_1952.pdf
Accident_-_Bury_Market_7_January_1869.pdf
Accident_-_Bury_Old_Station_7_November_1862.pdf
Accident_-_Castleford_5_April_1864.pdf
Accident_-_Castleford_16_May_1913
Accident_-_Chapel_Town_13_January_1866.pdf
Accident_-_Cheetham_Hill_Junction_7_December_1889.pdf
Accident_-_Chorley_18_January_1853.pdf
Accident_-_Chorley_21_May_1853.pdf
Accident_-_Church_14_August_1851
Accident_-_Clayton_Bridge_2_March_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Clifton_Junction_24_July_1869.pdf
Accident_-_Cornholme_7_January_1919
Accident_-_Cranberry_Moss_21_October_1851.pdf
Accident_-_Cranberry_Moss_21_October_1851.pdf
Accident_-_Crofton_15_January_1859.pdf
Accident_-_Crows_Nest_Junction_29_December_1884.pdf
Accident_-_Darton_5_November_1861.pdf
Accident_-_Darwen_27_December_1973.pdf
Accident_-_Dewsbury_11_April_1896.pdf
Accident_-_Dixonfold_4_March_1853.pdf
Accident_-_Dixonfold_1_February_1859.pdf
Accident_-_Dobbs_Brow_Junction_30_March_1921.pdf
Accident_-_Dryclough_5_February_2011.pdf
Accident_-_Ducie_Bridge_Manchester_23_April_1883
Accident_-_Eastwood_25_October_1861.pdf
Accident_-_Eastwood_9_February_1924.pdf
Accident_-_Elland_22_November_1861.pdf
Accident_-_Elland_15_November_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Euxton_and_Farrington_7_September_1841.pdf
Accident_-_Euxton_Junction_5_September_1850.pdf
Accident_-_Euxton_24_August_1853.pdf
Accident_-_Euxton_5_September_1853
Accident_-_Euxton_21_February_1866.pdf
Accident_-_Euxton_to_Coppull_8_January_1873.pdf
Accident_-_Formby_11_August_1852.pdf
Accident_-_Goole_15_April_1873.pdf
Accident_-_Gregson_Lane_Siding_17_September_1873.pdf
Accident_-_Grindford_Bar_13_January_1873.pdf
Accident_-_Halsahw_Moor_31_January_1868.pdf
Accident_-_Hapton_12_January_1888.pdf
Accident_-_Headfield_Junction_20_November_1900
Accident_-_Heaton_Lodge_Junction_3_November_1849.pdf
Accident_-_Hebden_Bridge_28_July_1860.pdf
Accident_-_Hebden_Bridge_21_June_1912
Accident_-_Hillhouse_20_December_1868.pdf
Accident_-_Hillhouse_1_February_1883.pdf
Accident_-_Hindley_31_October_1939.pdf
Accident_-_Hindley_Junction_8_February_1877
Accident_-_Hindley_Blackrod_Junction_22_January_1909
Accident_-_Hoghton_to_Pleasington_7_June_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Holbeck_GNR_4_June_1860
Accident_-_Holbeck_GNR_2_August_1871
Accident_-_Horbury_Inghams_Siding_6_November_1873
Accident_-_Horbury_and_Ossett_5_February_1868.pdf
Accident_-_Horwich_Junction_27_March_1887.pdf
Accident_-_Huddersfield_7_November_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Huddersfield_23_May_1877
Accident_-_Huddersfield_6_November_1989.pdf
Accident_-_Huddersfield_Tunnel_23_June_1858.pdf
Accident_-_Irk_Valley_Junction_15_August_1953.pdf
Accident_-_Kirkby_27_June_1857
Accident_-_Kirkdale_20_January_1861.pdf
Accident_-_Kirkdale_28_March_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Kirkdale_28_May_1903
Accident_-_Kirkham_21_October_1871
Accident_-_Knottingley_18_September_1850.pdf
Accident_-_Knottingley_22_November_1853
Accident_-_Knottingley_GNR_10_September_1857
Accident_-_Knottingley_GNR_6_January_1863
Accident_-_Knottingley_GNR_14_November_1867
Accident_-_Knottingley_27_March_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Knottingley_11_March_1901
Accident_-_Laister_Dyke_14_September_1864.pdf
Accident_-_Lea_Road_25_May_1853
Accident_-_Lea_Road_27_September_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Lea_Road_11_March_1936.pdf
Accident_-_Leeds_3_January_1855.pdf
Accident_-_Leeds_GNR_20_March_1872
Accident_-_Leeds_21_February_1873
Accident_-_Leeds_28_November_1874
Accident_-_Leeds_Normanton_18_August_1845
Accident_-_Leyland_3_February_1854
Accident_-_Leyland_2_June_1898
Accident_-_Littleborough_19_August_1855.pdf
Accident_-_Liverpool_Exchange_16_July_1872
Accident_-_Liverpool_Exchange_11_September_1872
Accident_-_Liverpool_Exchange_21_November_1874
Accident_-_Liverpool_Exchange_20_April_1883.pdf
Accident_-_Liverpool_Exchange_22_July_1886.pdf
Accident_-_Liverpool_Exchange_22_July_1890
Accident_-_Liverpool_Exchange_22_May_1902
Accident_-_Liverpool_Gt_Howard_St_Junction_17_September_1876
Accident_-_Lockwood_17_March_1869
Accident_-_Lostock_Hall_Jct_17_July_1869
Accident_-_Lostock_Hall_29_April_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Lostock_Hall_&_Blackburn_28 May_1849
Accident_-_Lostock_Junction_6_September_1858
Accident_-_Lostock_Junction_30_September_1869
Accident_-_Lostock_Junction_17_July_1920
Accident_-_Lostock_Junction_9_January_1925.pdf
Accident_-_Lower_Darwen_24_December_1900
Accident_-_Low_Moor_4_July_1872
Accident_-_Low_Moor_16_December_1872
Accident_-_Low_Moor_2_January_1900
Accident_-_Luddenfoot_16_September_1847
Accident_-_Luddendenfoot_20_October_1903
Accident_-_Luddendenfoot_26_March_1925.pdf
Accident_-_Lytham_20_September_1849
Accident_-_Lytham_Junction_25_November_1869
Accident_-_Lytham_3_November_1924.pdf
Accident_-_Maghull_1_January_1850.pdf
Accident_-_Maghull_17_July_1875
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_9_December_1856.pdf
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_15_April_1858.pdf
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_10_May_1861
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_7_August_1866
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_8_July_1867
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_15_December_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_3_October_1871
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_26_January_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_LNWR_16_August_1872
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_6_December_1873
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_7_July_1877
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_22_October_1883
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_12_April_1884.pdf
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_11_September_1894
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_11_September_1899
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_16_April_1900
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_24_December_1907
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_23_May_1921
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_11_April_1932.pdf
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_1_January_1936
Accident_-_Manchester_Victoria_10_December_1947.pdf
Accident_-_Marsden_29_August_1850
Accident_-_Marsh_Lane_Junction_21_January_1909
Accident_-_Middleton_8_February_1875
Accident_-_Middleton_26_April_1873
Accident_-_MiddletonJunction_19_March_1866.pdf
Accident_-_Middleton_Junction_20_June_1871
Accident_-_Middleton_Junction_26_March_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Middleton_Junction_14_December_1885.pdf
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_25_September_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_10_Nov_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_30_October_1868.pdf
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_10_May_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_19_May_1871
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_12_September_1871
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_9_October_1871
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_2_April_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_17_September_1872
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_9_August_1873
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_24_October_1874
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_24_September_1875
Accident_-_Miles_Platting_14_March_1900
Accident_-_Mill_Hill_25_May_1861
Accident_-_Mill_Hill_16_December_1874
Accident_-_Mill_Lane_Junction_14_June_1863
Accident_-_Millwood_Tunnel_Todmorden_28_February_1902
Accident_-_Mirfield_7_January_1861.pdf
Accident_-_Mirfield_30_June_1868.pdf
Accident_-_Mirfield_2_October_1873
Accident_-_Mirfield_to_Heckmondwyke_11_June_1858.pdf
Accident_-_Molineaux_Viaduct_14_December_1854.pdf
Accident_-_Moses_Gate_10_December_1860.pdf
Accident_-_Moses_Gate_18_January_1935.pdf
Accident_-_Mytholm_Bridge_3_December_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Mytholmroyd_13_October_1871
Accident_-_Mytholmroyd_1_January_1875
Accident_-_Newchurch_12_March_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Newton_Heath_29_December_1853.pdf
Accident_-_Newton_Heath_30_November_1875
Accident_-_Newton_Heath_25_March_1907
Accident_-_Newtown_Siding_18_August_1873
Accident_-_New_Moss_Colliery_Junction_29_December_1877
Accident_-_North_Dean_19_June_1868.pdf
Accident_-_North_Dean_11_September_1871
Accident_-_North_Dean_29_September_1873
Accident_-_Oakenshaw_Junction_1_May_1871
Accident_-_Oldfield_Road_31_October_1868.pdf
Accident_-_Oldfield_Road_Salford_6_June_1911
Accident_-_Oldham_Clegg_Street_17_December_1874
Accident_-_Ormskirk_10_March_1859.pdf
Accident_-_Ormskirk_25_November_1910
Accident_-_Pemberton_13_December_1854.pdf
Accident_-_Penistone_12_October_1872
Accident_-_Pendleton_6_April_1875
Accident_-_Pendleton_New_Stn_11_January_1902
Accident_-_Penistone_9_December_1896.pdf
Accident_-_Poulton_Junction_21_August_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_16_December_1840
Accident_-_Preston_17_August_1845
Accident_-_Preston_16_March_1847.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_16_September_1854.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_23_July_1855.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_4_October_1856
Accident_-_Preston_25_September_1858
Accident_-_Preston_18_April_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_22_May_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_17_April_1873
Accident_-_Preston_5_September_1874
Accident_-_Preston_22_January_1875
Accident_-_Preston_3_June_1884.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_17_October_1885.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_7_July_1889.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_21_January_1892
Accident_-_Preston_23_July_1892.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_3_August_1896.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_16_January_1920.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_12_October_1931.pdf
Accident_-_Preston_18_January_1986.pdf
Accident_-_Radcliffe_13_December_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Radcliffe_Bridge_18_October_1859
Accident_-_Radcliffe_Bridge_1_August_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Radcliffe_Bridge_15_October_1877
Accident_-_Radcliffe_North_Junction_18_December_1884.pdf
Accident_-_Rainford_Junction_1_January_1873
Accident_-_Rainford_Junction_17_February_1897
Accident_-_Ramsbottom_22_January_1849.pdf
Accident_-_Ramsbottom_15_March_2018.pdf
Accident_-_Ravensthorpe_20_January_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Rainford_Junction_17_February_1897
Accident_-_Ringley_Road_16_December_1859.pdf
Accident_-_Ringley_Road_26_October_1859
Accident_-_Rochdale_24_December_1860.pdf
Accident_-_Rochdale_13_July_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Rochdale_26_December_1883
Accident_-_Rochdale_to_Blue_Pits_5_April_1853.pdf
Accident_-_Royton_31_October_1908
Accident_-_Rufford_2_January_1884.pdf
Accident_-_Salford_Junction_8_July_1859
Accident_-_Salford_22_July_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Salford_10_November_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Salford_28_May_1869.pdf
Accident_-_Salford_&_Victoria_19_September_1874
Accident_-_Salford_3_April_1877
Accident_-_Sandhills_30_September_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Sandhills_30_December_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Sandhills_23_August_1871
Accident_-_Sandhills_25_August_1900
Accident_-_Sandhills_1_May_1913
Accident_-_Sandhills_2_May_1933.pdf
Accident_-_Seaforth_21_August_1872
Accident_-_Shaw_31_August_1869
Accident_-_Smedley_15_October_1959.pdf
Accident_-_Smithy_Bridge_16_November_1875
Accident_-_Smithy_Bridge_18_March_1915
Accident_-_Soothill_Wood_Colliery_GNR_9_February_1920
Accident_-_Sough_19_January_1857
Accident_-_Southport_21_June_1877
Accident_-_Southport_9_March_1924.pdf
Accident_-_Sowerby_Bridge_11_July_1863
Accident_-_Sowerby_Bridge_23_September_1869
Accident_-_Sowerby_Bridge-22_October_1903
Accident_-_Springs_Branch_7_January_1854.pdf
Accident_-_Springwood_Junction_9_July_1869
Accident_-_St_Johns_Waterloo_2_November_1903
Accident_-_St._Lukes_Southport_3_July_1921.pdf
Accident_-_Staddlethorpe_Jct_NER_2_March_1889
Accident_-_Staleybridge_MSLR_2 December_1865
Accident_-_Staleybridge_Victoria_Junction_13June_1866.pdf
Accident_-_Stanningley_GNR_19_February_1872
Accident_-_Stubbins_4_August_1856
Accident_-_Summerseat_27_September_1855.pdf
Accident_-_Summit_Tunnel_19_August_1855.pdf
Accident_-_Summit_Tunnel_20_September_1884.pdf
Accident_-_Summit_Tunnel_6_February_1922.pdf
Accident_-_Summit_Tunnel_20_December_1984.pdf
Accident_-_Summit_Tunnel_28_December_2010.pdf
Accident_-_The_Oaks_9_April_1906
Accident_-_Thornhill_Junction_23_April_2_8_May_1874
Accident_-_Thorpes_Bridge_Junction_22_February_1894
Accident_-_Thurstonland_Tunnel_20_December_1906
Accident_-_Todmorden_21_October_1854.pdf
Accident_-_Todmorden_7_March_1869.pdf
Accident_-_Todmorden_11_January_1872.pdf
Accident_-_Todmorden_8_September_1886.pdf
Accident_-_Todmorden_4_November_1901
Accident_-_Todmorden_5_November_1901
Accident_-_Towneley_23_March_1858.pdf
Accident_-_Townley_6_March_1910
Accident_-_Upholland_Tunnel_13_September_1870.pdf
Accident_-_Wakefield_17_January_1863
Accident_-_Wakefield_Ings_Junction_8_February_1886
Accident_-_Wakefield_Kirkgate_27_November_1884.pdf
Accident_-_Walkden_30_October_1922.pdf
Accident_-_Walton_Junction_18_July_1874
Accident_-_Walton_Tunnel_26_November_1849.pdf
Accident_-_Walton_Tunnel_18_Novenber_1871
Accident_-_Wardleworth_12_June_1932.pdf
Accident_-_Waterhouse_Siding_12_August_1875
Accident_-_Waterhouse_Siding_5_October_1875
Accident_-_Waterloo_17_July_1874
Accident_-_Waterloo_15_July_1903
Accident_-_Wellfield_Road_Preston_22_June_1877
Accident_-_Whitehouse_South_Jct_Preston_25_September_1920
Accident_-_Whitehouse_West_Junction_13_May_1950.pdf
Accident_-_Wigan_17_July_1852.pdf
Accident_-_Wigan_6_March_1854.pdf
Accident_-_Wigan_28_February_1858.pdf
Accident_-_Wigan_15_June_1858.pdf
Accident_-_Wigan_10_July_1860.pdf
Accident_-_Wigan_1_November_1860.pdf
Accident_-_Wigan_20_June_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Wigan_25_November_1865.pdf
Accident_-_Wigan_17_December_1870
Accident_-_Wigan_Junction_5_November_1875
Accident_-_Wigan_2_February_1907
Accident_-_Windsor_Bridge_21_October_1857.pdf
Accident_-_Windsor_Bridge_25_January_1899
Accident_-_Windsor_Bridge_5_November_1901
