Roma Street Station, c1880
Roma Street Station.
The Telegraph
15 March 1886
Sensational Accident
On Saturday evening quite a sensational accident occured at the Roma street railway crossing, but one which was, luckily, unattended by any more serious consequences than a freight to those most immediately concerned. The train from Sandgate ran into the station at about a quarter-past 7 o'clock, bring, however, but very few passengers, and for these there was a scramble among the Jehus in attendance at the station. This lot having been disposed of, the cabmen then rushed across the railway line to secure good places upon the opposite side of the station in time for the arrival of the Ipswich train. A man named John Riley, driving a two-wheeled car, No. 134, was about to traverse the line, when he was warned that the engine of the Sandgate train was close at hand. Riley seems to have lost his presence of mind, or thought he could cross before the engine could reach him, and whipped up his horse and drove ahead. He crossed the first pair of rails in safety, and was half-way across the second when the engine's cow-catcher struck the wheel of the cab, and the driver and horse and vehicle were thrown down, and projected several feet. The driver of the engine applied the brakes, but too late. The engine was then put back, and numbers of bystanders rushed to the permanent way to render assistance. Riley and his horse were expected to be killed, but fears were quickly dispelled by Riley himself rising from the ground more frightened than hurt. The horse was found to have received one or two cuts, but nothing serious. The greatest injury was done to the vehicle, the axle being broken and the wheel smashed. The cab was removed, and Riley shortly after led his horse home.
Then and now...
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- Persistent identifierItem ID 436389
- Flickr URLFlickr - QSA
- Queensland State Archive series linkSeries ID: 193 Registers of Photographic Black and White Negatives of Queensland Industry, Services, Views, People and Events
- Queensland State Archives digital image linkQueensland State Archives Item ID 436389, Photographic material
- Contributing organisationAgency ID: 2027 Premier's Department, Office of State Affairs, Public Relations Branch, Photographic Unit