#ICYMI Monday was International Workers' Memorial Day - a key day to remember the dead & fight for the living.
The Railway Work, Life & Death project marked it by posting a series of railway staff accidents from our forthcoming data release - find them with #IWMDHourByHour
👇
Posed railway staff safety photograph, showing a railwayman walking on the track with his back to an oncoming train. The caption reads 'obviously dangerous.'
That's #IWMDHourByHour ended: a glimpse into the many railway staff accidents in the past, on 1 day
We selected 23 accidents that occurred on #OnThisDay, 28 April, from 100s of options in the Railway Work, Life & Death project. #IWMD2025
Find out more about us here:
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
Page from railway staff safety booklet, showing two photographs of carriage cleaners and maintenance staff at work, being injured by a door being opened into them. The text describes the issue.
#OnThisDay 1914, at 23:25, GWR carriage cleaner Sturgeon was injured at #Slough, #Berkshire, #England.
His face was caught by a chain during shunting; he needed 4 days off work.
Railway dangers came in all shapes & sizes.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
#OnThisDay 1914, at 22:10, GWR porter Kebby was injured at #Paddington, #London.
His foot was hurt when a truck board slipped. He was off work for 10 days.
Minor injuries were extraordinarily common on the railway - another cost of work, carried by staff!
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
#OnThisDay 1919, at 21:50, Cardiff Railway hydraulic repairer Richard Gammon, was killed in #Cardiff, #Wales.
His Union, the NUR (now @rmtunion.bsky.social) secured his dependents £250 compensation (c.£14,000 now).
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
#OnThisDay 1915, at 20:00, Cardiff Railway cradleman A Lewis was injured at Queen Alexandra Dock, #Cardiff, #Wales.
Whilst placing a scotch in position, his fingers were cut & bruised on a wagon spring.
Off work for 8.5wks, he received £8 compensation.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
Infographic showing the number of workers killed and injured on Britain and Ireland's railways and whose accidents were investigated, between 1911 and 1915. This was the first run of data the Railway Work, Life & Death project produced, of around 4000 cases, now hugely expanded. Black figures represent the 777 fatalities; red figures the 3152 injuries.
#ICYMI for International Workers' Memorial Day today, every hour we're posting a British railway worker hurt by their work in the past.
Find them with #IWMDHourByHour
They come from the Railway Work, Life & Death project:
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
#IWMD2025
#OnThisDay 1915 at 19:05 Private Idris Lewis, 12th Welsh Battalion, was found unconscious by the Pump Engine House, #Barry, on the Barry Railway, #Wales.
His right knee was dislocated.
The Railway Work, Life & Death project datasets include other workers!
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
Aerial photograph from 1923, of Cardiff West Docks, showing warehouses and railway sidings surrounding rectangular expanse of water. In the distance the river Taff curves. Courtesy Britain from Above.
#OnThisDay 1919, at 18:20, Cardiff Railway hydraulic repairer James Payne, was injured.
He was at 20/23 hydraulic engine house, at the docks, #Cardiff, #Wales.
Shovelling coal underneath the wagon, he hit his left thumb against the wagon, cutting it.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
#OnThisDay 1921, at 17:35, Cambrian Railways signalman John Caffrey, 24, was injured at Cemmes Road, #Mongomeryshire, #Wales.
He sprained his ankle jumping off the platform, to detach a vehicle from a train.
He was off work for 11 days.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
Line drawn image showing around 250 railwaymen, with a caption 'One hundred times as many railway men as are here shown were injured - 471 of them fatally - through accidents on the railways in the United Kingdom last year' for 1915.
#ICYMI for International Workers' Memorial Day today, every hour we're posting a British railway worker hurt by their work in the past.
Find them with #IWMDHourByHour
They come from the Railway Work, Life & Death project: www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
#IWMD2025
Photograph showing a coal wagon cantilevered out over a sailing vessel, and 'tipped' so coal would slide out of the wagon and into the vessel's hold. A man stands on the cradle. Garston docks, early 1900s. Photograph courtesy National Railway Museum.
#OnThisDay 1919, at 16:45, Cardiff Railway coal tipper Ernest Scourfield was injured at No.3 tip, Queen Alexandra Dock, #Cardiff, #Wales.
While taking off a chute point piece before it was raised, his left hand was crushed.
He was off work for 15 days.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
Aerial photograph from 1923, of Cardiff West Docks, showing warehouses and railway sidings surrounding rectangular expanse of water. In the distance the river Taff curves. Courtesy Britain from Above.
#OnThisDay 1922, at 15:30, Cardiff Railway hobbler (casual dock labourer) FJ Horton was injured on board SS Saltom, in #Cardiff East Dock, #Wales.
His hand was caught between a sling strap & a bag of potatoes as it was lifted. He lost the top of a finger.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025 #Railway200
Posed 1910s staff safety photograph, showing a track worker wearing a cap, standing upright beside a railway line, using a long-handled hammer to knock a bolt head off. The caption reads 'Knocking off head of bolt. Where will it fly to? Is It Safe?'
#OnThisDay 1914, at 14:15, GWR packer [a track worker] Woodley was injured at #Taplow, #Buckinghamshire, #England.
He had some teeth knocked out by a keying hammer.
Railway staff accidents happened in many different environments & ways.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025 #Railway200
Photograph showing a coal wagon cantilevered out over a sailing vessel, and 'tipped' so coal would slide out of the wagon and into the vessel's hold. A man stands on the cradle. Garston docks, early 1900s.
#OnThisDay 1917 at 13:15, Cardiff Railway tipper W Smith was injured at No. 3 tip, Roath Dock, #Cardiff, #Wales.
Whilst uncoupling a tip, the spanner he was using slipped & bruised his left shin.
Railway work took in an amazing range of roles.
📷 National Railway Museum
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
Posed staff safety photograph, showing a gang of men lifting a rail - 4 on each of the length of rail, but one end has released it, putting strain on the men at the other end.
#OnThisDay 1911 at 12:05, Rhymney Railway platelayer Charles Jones bruised his thigh at Ffaldcaiach nr Llancaiach, #Glamorgan, #Wales.
Throwing a rail from the track to the trackside with a mate, it swung back & hit him. He was off work 2 days.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD
Aerial photograph from 1923, of Cardiff West Docks, showing warehouses and railway sidings surrounding rectangular expanse of water. In the distance the river Taff curves. Courtesy Britain from Above.
Just one example: #OnThisDay 1922, at 15:30, Cardiff Railway hobbler (casual dock labourer) FJ Horton was injured on SS Saltom, in #Cardiff East Dock, #Wales.
His hand was caught between a sling strap & a bag of potatoes being lifted. He lost the top of a finger.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD #Railway200
Line drawn image showing around 250 railwaymen, with a caption 'One hundred times as many railway men as are here shown were injured - 471 of them fatally - through accidents on the railways in the United Kingdom last year' for 1915.
#OnThisDay - International Workers' Memorial Day #IWMD - we're posting a case from the Railway Work, Life & Death project every hour.
Find them all with #IWMDHourByHour - railway workers like Southern Railway acting guard WAT Rogers or GWR kitchen maid Franks.
#Railway200
Line drawn image showing around 250 railwaymen, with a caption 'One hundred times as many railway men as are here shown were injured - 471 of them fatally - through accidents on the railways in the United Kingdom last year' for 1915.
#ICYMI for International Workers’ Memorial Day today, every hour we're posting a British railway worker hurt by their work in the past.
Find them with #IWMDHourByHour
They come from the Railway Work, Life & Death project: www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
#IWMD @aslefunion.bsky.social
#OnThisDay 1920 at 11:15, Cardiff Railway shunter W Dunham was injured at East Moors, #Barry, #Glamorgan, #Wales.
Running back in advance of the engine, he stepped on a piece of clinker & sprained his left ankle.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD #Railway200
#OnThisDay 1914 at 10:30, GWR kitchen maid Franks was injured at #Birmingham, #England.
She slipped down stairs.
Read more about railwaywomen's kitchen accidents here:
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/railwaywomen...
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD #Railway200
#OnThisDay 1922 at 09:30, Cardiff Railway fitter P Spear was injured at Bute Docks fitting shop, #Cardiff, #Wales.
When fitting iron couplings into rubber suction pipes, his right hand came in contact with a tin on the bench. He cut his small finger.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD
Posed staff safety photograph showing a crane on a railway goods platform, with an open wagon beside. The hook of the crane is attached to some goods, but in danger of striking a passing worker.
#OnThisDay 1920 at 08:00, Cardiff Railway labourer John Hann was injured at Queen Alexandra Dock, #Barry, #Wales.
Bunkering SS Portia, the ball of the crane hook jammed his right thumb.
Off work for over 2 weeks, he received £5.10.10 compensation.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD #Railway200
Line drawn image showing around 250 railwaymen, with a caption 'One hundred times as many railway men as are here shown were injured - 471 of them fatally - through accidents on the railways in the United Kingdom last year' for 1915.
#ICYMI for International Workers Memorial Day today, every hour we're posting a British railway worker hurt by their work in the past
Find them with #IWMDHourByHour
They come from the Railway Work, Life & Death project: www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
#IWMD @tuc.org.uk @itfglobalunion.bsky.social
Photograph of 6 men, each leading a horse, with brick-built garage for vans to left, and wood and brick-built stables to right. Buildings and trees behind. Taken at Derby in 1905. Courtesy National Railway Museum.
#OnThisDay 1914 at 07:45, GWR van guard Simpson was injured at #Paddington, #London.
Kicked by a horse, he was off work for 9 days.
Railways were big users of horses, & they brought their own, particular risks for staff in the past.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD #Railway200
📷National Railway Museum
Two posed staff safety images, showing a railwayman in outline stepping on a rail and stepping on sleepers - two potential slip hazards. Railway wagons behind.
#OnThisDay 1914 at 06:55, GWR brakesman Harvey was injured at Newbridge, #Monmouthshire, #Wales.
Whilst about the track, he slipped on a sleeper and cut his head.
The Railway Work, Life & Death project is improving understanding of historic railway staff accidents.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD
Infographic covering Railway Inspectorate accident investigations, 1911-15 - around 4000 cases. A circle segmented into 24 pieces shows varying number of accidents by hour of the day.
#OnThisDay the ONLY #IWMDHourByHour that doesn't have a documented railway worker accident in the Railway Work, Life & Death database.
There would have been lots of staff accidents between 5-6am, of course - but many original records don't give the time!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
#IWMD
Posed staff safety photograph entitled 'into the jaws of death', showing a railwayman stepping out of the way of one train but into the path of another approaching unseen from behind.
#OnThisDay 1932 at 04:35, Southern Railway acting guard WAT Rogers was killed by a train at Clapham Junction, #Surrey, #England.
Examining his train by walking beside it, he stepped around a bridge girder & was struck by a train approaching from behind.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD
Staff safety publication 1930s, showing two photographs of shunting with a horse and accompanying text describing the dangers, including 'it is wrong for one man to attempt to control two or more horses attached to wagons.'
#OnThisDay 1909 at 03:55, North British Railway horseman J Troup, 22, was injured at North Leith, #Edinburgh.
Leading 2 horses in the track to pull a wagon, he got them out of the way of an approaching train, but got his arm caught between wagon buffers.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD #Railway200
Posed staff safety photograph, showing a railwayman tripping over a point rod cover and risking going under a passing steam engine.
#OnThisDay 1914 at 02:30, GWR goods guard Gomm was injured at Pantyffynnon, #Carmarthenshire, #Wales.
He slipped over a point covering & hurt his knee & hand.
The industry was mandated to tackle track level obstructions after 1902 - but issues continued.
#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD #Railway200
