OFF THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW
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CHEVINGTON - On October 25th, 1887, the 2.30 p.m. up express goods train from Tweedmouth to Forth junction, Newcastle (consisting of engine and tender, 36 wagons, of which all but five or six were loaded, and brake-van), overran the up signals at Chevington station at about 7.52 p.m., and came violently into collision with the engine of a special down goods and cattle train (which train had been shunted on to the up line), standing detached ahead of its train at the up home-signal.
This engine was driven back on to the engine of the down Amble branch train, which, having just picked up two cattle trucks from the special cattle train, was moving slowly forward on the up line to recross on to the down line, from which it had been shunted. The Amble train (consisting of tank-engine running tank first, brake-van, composite, and two third-class carriages, third-class brake-carriage, and two cattle trucks) was forced back until the rear vehicle struck the cattle trucks of the special down goods and cattle train, which were moved slightly backwards by the shock.
Fortunately, there no fatalities and 7 injured. Causes of the accident were confused, ranging from multiple errors by the staff, insufficient braking on the goods train and a signal passed at danger.
Here we see the engine of the Amble branch train and it's brakevan thrust up onto the platform with the Cattle train engine behind it and the goods train engine behind that.