Durham Mining Museum - John William Hewitt (original) (raw)

Deceased, who was employed as a blacksmith at Burradon Colliery, was walking home to West Moor after his day's work was over, on a private railway extending from Burradon Colliery to the Tyne, and having a connection with the North-Eastern Railway at West Moor, about a mile from Burradon Colliery. This length of railway is also used for leading coal from Seaton Burn and Dinnington Collieries, owned by the Seaton Burn Coal Co, Ltd., and also from the Lizzie and Hazlerigg Collieries, owned by the same Company that own Burradon Colliery. No one saw the accident happen, and the actual train that caused it was not identified, but it was supposed to be a train of mixed wagons and trucks laden with coal from Dinnington or Seaton Burn Collieries. Deceased was found on the railway, and stated he had jumped on to a truck or wagon, and while fastening his coat they had come together, and, as the buffers do not correspond, the buffer of a truck crushed him. He was found to be suffering from a fractured pelvis, and was taken to Newcastle Infirmary the day after the accident, where he died. Notice boards are placed on the railway prohibiting trespassing, but walking on the line is universal.

• 1906 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 3449), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 49, Accident Number: 11 Where to find this report

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