Rushden Mail-Bag Accident
Cut Up on the Railway - Porter's Narrow Escape

The mail bag from Rushden to Leicester was cut up on Tuesday night by a passing train at the Midland Railway Station, Wellingborough

The porter, who was conveying it across the line with other luggage on a truck, did not notice that an express goods train was due to pass through the station until the last moment. He then hurried forward to escape it, and in doing so the mail-bag was jolted from the truck on to the line.

The train went over it and mutilated several of the letters. All the contents of the bag were recovered. The Post Office officials managed where necessary to put the letters together, and they will be delivered in due course.

Rushden Echo, 28^th September 1917, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Accident On The Midland Railway

Some alarming rumours got about on Saturday night that a serious accident had occurred on the Rushden and Higham Ferrers branch line, and in some of the Sunday papers the occurrence was much exaggerated.  What happened was that between 4 and 5 p.m. on Saturday a goods engine working some trucks near Rushden brickworks fouled the points in such a position as to block the line, which on this branch is a single one.  The result was that all traffic was for a few hours completely blocked.  Occurring as it did on a night when passenger traffic was very heavy with Feast visitors, a good deal of inconvenience was caused, but nothing worse happened.  Trains were run to Irchester station, from which point people walked to Rushden.

Beast Killed—As a result of a cattle-truck running too fast from the brick bridge beyond Rushden Station back to the buffers last Friday, several beast were severely injured and had to be killed. One of the beast was practically killed by the collision.

Rushden Echo, 2^nd May 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

Runaway—Yesterday morning the Rushden London Midland and Scottish Railway Company’s parcels van, with Mr John Barker (vanman) in charge, was delivering parcels to Messrs Nurrish and Pallett, Shirley-road. While the vanman was in the factory, the horse, which was facing the Queen Victoria Hotel, bolted. There being a slight decline in Shirley-road, the van soon gained speed and was well away when Mr Barker came out of the factory. The horse was unable to turn at the corner by the Police Station, and ran into the corner wall of the Queen Victoria Hotel opposite Mr Oliver Claridge’s residence and the Police Station. The van turned over on the opposite side to what one would have thought, leaving the cart wheels on the inside of the road and the covering of the van against the wall, after removing a few stones. Although the van was in this position, the horse in the shafts remained upright. The parcels were upset, but minor damage was caused. Many helpers from the goods and passenger departments were soon at the scene, and the parcels were removed on another dray and delivered as usual. We know no reason why the horse bolted, and we learn on enquiry that the animal sustained only a small wound on its hoof.

Rushden Echo, 18^th July 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

Fell From Bridge—Yesterday morning about 11.30, Ralph Shaw, a Stanwick man, aged about 28, one of the workers in the employ of the L.M.S. Railway who are painting the underside of the railway bridge, was accidentally knocked off the “cradle” (which was suspended from the bridge) by a passing ’bus. The ’bus was proceeding along High-street (from the church) towards the bridge, and on reaching the bridge the driver seemed to mistake the signal of the red flag, as some smaller cars could pass under the workmen. The top of the ’bus caught the end of the plank, and the man fell to the road, his right foot taking the whole force. He was quickly assisted by the startled onlookers and carried into the Royal theatre, where first-aid was rendered by Nursing Superintendent Miss Cave and Nursing Officer Miss Clipson, Staff-Sergt. A Prigmore, and Sergt. Gray, of the Rushden St. John Ambulance Division, Mrs Catling telephoned several surgeons, and Mr H Holbeck, cinema operator and electrician at the Theatre, using his motor-cycle, secured the early attendance of Dr. Gillespie, who found that Shaw had had a remarkably fortunate escape from fractured bones ot other apparent serious injuries. The extent of the hurt appeared to be bruises and shock. The Rushden motor-ambulance was procured, and the sufferer was taken to his home. P.C. Luck took particulars of the accident for the police records.