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Title: Halifax Tram Crash, October 15th 1907 - MCH00190
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Title
Halifax Tram Crash, October 15th 1907 - MCH00190
Description
From the Halifax Courier:
On the wet morning of October 15, 1907, car No 64 was en route from Triangle to Halifax. Dawn had not yet broken as it climbed slowly out of Sowerby Bridge, passing Bolton Brow. On board were about 60 early-morning workers, most of them crammed into the downstairs saloon, with many standing, although 12 were on the open and rain-swept upper deck. At the tram's controls was an experienced driver, 36-year-old Thomas Herbert Simpson, and the conductor was 32-year-old Walter Robinson. Despite the damp rails, all went well until the car reached the Pye Nest corner, opposite Edwards Road. Here the electric current failed and the tram began to run backwards. Driver Simpson did his utmost to apply the brakes, without success. Conductor Robinson, upstairs collecting fares, rushed down to try to wrestle with the brakes.
Down the lower slope of Pye Nest Road sped the uncontrolled vehicle, gaining speed all the time. Some passengers panicked and jumped off in the darkness (the lights had failed) but Robinson did his utmost to keep the remaining people on board calm, calling loudly to pedestrians to jump out of the way.
Reaching a kink in the rails at Bolton Brow, the tram jumped the rails opposite the school with a violent lurch, mounted the pavement and smashed into a shop between Grove Street and East Parade, demolishing its frontage. Car No 64 then swung around and toppled over, the impact wresting its upper storey from the lower deck. Conductor Robinson was killed instantly, as were two passengers. Two more were later to die of their injuries in hospital. Thirty seven others were injured but emergency services were soon on the scene, the crash having woken much of Sowerby Bridge.
A few persons were trapped under the tramcar body, which had to be lifted to release them. Many injured passengers were taken into the home of Lewis Atkinson and others to the Shepherd's Rest Hotel for temporary care while ambulance carriages were summoned from Sowerby Bridge, Halifax and Elland. But one injured man was simply trundled off home to Tuel Lane in a wheelbarrow!
Robinson was hailed a hero. He had stuck at his post, frantically seeking to prevent the catastrophe, shouting warnings and stopping passengers falling off. Many survivors were later to testify as to his calm command in a dire situation.
An inquiry found that having different electric emergency braking systems at each end of the tram had been a major contributory cause of the accident. Local parents gave thanks that the accident had occurred so early in the morning for two or three hours later Bolton Brow would have been full of children on their way to school.
On the wet morning of October 15, 1907, car No 64 was en route from Triangle to Halifax. Dawn had not yet broken as it climbed slowly out of Sowerby Bridge, passing Bolton Brow. On board were about 60 early-morning workers, most of them crammed into the downstairs saloon, with many standing, although 12 were on the open and rain-swept upper deck. At the tram's controls was an experienced driver, 36-year-old Thomas Herbert Simpson, and the conductor was 32-year-old Walter Robinson. Despite the damp rails, all went well until the car reached the Pye Nest corner, opposite Edwards Road. Here the electric current failed and the tram began to run backwards. Driver Simpson did his utmost to apply the brakes, without success. Conductor Robinson, upstairs collecting fares, rushed down to try to wrestle with the brakes.
Down the lower slope of Pye Nest Road sped the uncontrolled vehicle, gaining speed all the time. Some passengers panicked and jumped off in the darkness (the lights had failed) but Robinson did his utmost to keep the remaining people on board calm, calling loudly to pedestrians to jump out of the way.
Reaching a kink in the rails at Bolton Brow, the tram jumped the rails opposite the school with a violent lurch, mounted the pavement and smashed into a shop between Grove Street and East Parade, demolishing its frontage. Car No 64 then swung around and toppled over, the impact wresting its upper storey from the lower deck. Conductor Robinson was killed instantly, as were two passengers. Two more were later to die of their injuries in hospital. Thirty seven others were injured but emergency services were soon on the scene, the crash having woken much of Sowerby Bridge.
A few persons were trapped under the tramcar body, which had to be lifted to release them. Many injured passengers were taken into the home of Lewis Atkinson and others to the Shepherd's Rest Hotel for temporary care while ambulance carriages were summoned from Sowerby Bridge, Halifax and Elland. But one injured man was simply trundled off home to Tuel Lane in a wheelbarrow!
Robinson was hailed a hero. He had stuck at his post, frantically seeking to prevent the catastrophe, shouting warnings and stopping passengers falling off. Many survivors were later to testify as to his calm command in a dire situation.
An inquiry found that having different electric emergency braking systems at each end of the tram had been a major contributory cause of the accident. Local parents gave thanks that the accident had occurred so early in the morning for two or three hours later Bolton Brow would have been full of children on their way to school.
Source
Mick Chatham
Rights
PHDA - Mick Chatham Collection
Relation
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
Identifier
MCH00190.tif
Collection
Citation
“Halifax Tram Crash, October 15th 1907 - MCH00190,” Pennine Horizons Digital Archive, accessed April 16, 2024, https://penninehorizons.org/items/show/31617.
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