Scene of the Late Fatal Accident on the …

Scarce c.19th hand coloured engraving of one of the colony’s earliest railway disasters which occurred at the foot of Lapstone Hill, Emu Plains.

An ‘up‘ train from Sydney did not wait for the ‘down’ train from Mt Victoria and the two collided and tumbled down an embankment. The ‘down’ train was expected to ‘cross’ at Wascoe’s Siding, but it had gambled on a clear line to Emu Plains and was now hurtling down the final section of Lapstone Hill towards the ‘up’ train. Two people sustained fatal burns and an assistant guard was also killed.

From the original edition of the Australasian Sketcher.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 914558
State Library New South Wales: REF1/MAV/FM4/9236-9239
State Library Victoria: PCINF AS 12-07-73 P.65

References:

George, H. Australasian Sketcher. Melbourne. 2012 Bib ID 5779434.