A Bridlington historian is inviting people to attend an event that marks a major rail disaster that took place almost 100 years ago.
Richard Jones has organised the commemoration in Hull to remember those who died in a 1927 rail disaster which affected many people including a vast number in Withernsea and Bridlington.
Richard explained: “On 14 February that year a train from Withernsea to Hull was approaching Hull Paragon Station at the same time a second train was departing Hull and heading to Scarborough. A mistake by the signalmen in a nearby box led to both trains colliding head on at the point where today is outside Hull Royal Infirmary. The collision at 10mph killed twelve people, all of whom were on the Withernsea train, when the wooden carriages telescoped into the solid mass of the engine.
“The driver of the Scarborough bound train was Bridlington man Samuel Atkinson who was working closely with fireman Charles Wilkinson, also from the town.
“Both men were injured but they did survive. The crash disrupted train services from Bridlington for several days causing delays and only allowing services as far as Beverley for a short period of time.
“Now on the 98th anniversary of the disaster a memorial plaque will be unveiled at Hull railway station honouring the people who died and paying tribute to the emergency services and rescue teams who had to break a huge hole in a wall on the track-side in order to carry casualties away to hospital. These unsung heroes have never been named and today remain just unknown locals and random passers-by.
“The plaque is my 17th memorial that I have installed, one of many projects that have remembered the victims of forgotten disasters including the other two rail crashes on the same line at Burton Agnes and Lockington in 1947 and 1986 respectively.”
Anybody who would like to attend the ceremony welcome to visit Hull railway station at 9am on Friday 14 February 2025, close to the statue of Philip Larkin.
“Permission was granted by Trans Pennine Express who are in charge of the station who jumped at the chance to keep alive this piece of forgotten history, something that has had two previous memorials both stolen and removed in the past.”added Richard.
Richard is also asking if anyone has any information on the Bridlington train crew from that day, or any further details on this disaster, please contact him at shipwreckdata@yahoo.co.uk
