The Recent Accident at Newtown.

Very rare engraving of the railway accident at Newtown on 6th January 1868, by F.C. Terry (signed with his initials). The accident resulted in one man being killed when Locomotive No. 1 collided with a passenger train at Newtown station. The locomotive was severely damaged and retired. It is now on display at the Powerhouse Museum.

From the original edition of the Illustrated Sydney News.

On the 6th inst. the most disastrous accident that has occurred on our railways took place at Newtown. The passenger train which leaves Newtown for Sydney at 8.33 a.m. was just leaving the station when the heavy luggage train from Picton was seen coming down the same line. The danger signal was hoisted at the time, and as far as could be seen Dixon, the driver of the goods train, was using every effort to prevent a collision. Rumour of the probability of an accident speedily spread amongst the passengers, and a number jumped out. The train had just started when the collision took place, the engine of the goods train striking the passenger carriages with great force, smashing some of the carriages, and injuring a large number of the occupants. When the first excitement of the shock ceased, it was seen that a mangled body was lying on the line, and on examination proved to be that of Mr. Falconer, of Syke’s Creek, near Mudgee, and brother to the station master at Newtown. He was seen seated next the window just before the accident, but whether he jumped out or was thrown out by the shock, no one can say. The injuries he sustained were frightful, and death must have been instantaneous. Amongst those most injured are Mr. Rattray, accountant, Sydney; Mr. Burton, solicitor ; Mr. Smith; Ashfield ; Mr. T. A. Henderson, clerk, at Billyard and Curtis ; Mr. Bryant, railway department ; Mr. .Brading, Pitt-street ; Mr. Stimson, Fairfield ; Mr. J. Allen, of the bank of New South Wales ; Mr. Phillips of the Joint Stock Bank ; Mr. Berthon, of the Harbor department ; Mr. Gibbons, Parramatta ; Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Owen, and Mrs. Brodie, Par- ramatta ; Mr. Halloran, Chief under-secretary ; Mr. Gill, clerk at Tooth’s ; and about twenty others. The excitement was intense ; thousands collected at and about the station, and serious consequences might have occurred had the 9 a.m. train from Sydney come through; fortunately this was prevented by the presence of mind of Mr. Marsden, of the wool stores, Circular Quay, who ran along the line and stopped the train in transition. An inquest held on Mr. Falconer’s remains, resulted in a verdict of manslaughter against the driver of the goods train, Dixon, and against the station master at Petersham, who allowed the train to pass without warning it of another being close ahead.

Collections:
State Library New South Wales: TN115
State Library Victoria: RARENSL N.S.W. 1875