Looking for some historical info

[turningman]

I wonder if anyone on this group can help. I'm researching my family history and I've just received a death certificate for one of my ancestors. The cause of death is stated as "Found dead on railway killed by a train". The location is Portbury and date of death was 19th Oct 1871.

I would love to be able to find out anything I can about this individual and the circumstances of his death. His occupation has been variously described as Railway Ganger, Plate Layer and Packer. I have no idea which railway company he may have worked for and this makes it difficult to search archives for staff records. Where can I find out whether the accident (if accident it was) just affected him or whether it was a more serious accident with more fatalities? Where can I go to find out more information?

Any advice which can shed more light on this little mystery would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

Turningman

[jules]

Your ancestor would have worked for the Bristol & Portishead Pier and Railway Co.

They built and operated this line from 12 July 1867, until it was acquired by the Great Western Railway on 1 July 1885. So, 19 Oct 1871 would put your ancestor as working for the original company.

Up until 1880, the line was to Brunel's Broad gauge, so your ancestor would have been a broad gauge ganger!

FFI on this company, see here:

http://www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org/html/history.html

Also see here for general (not very helpful, I'm afraid) info on how railway accidents are recorded and general railway genealogy info:

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/genealogy.php

You might also like to try here:

http://visitbristol.co.uk/site/p_40081

As the City Council were very closely linked to the development of the various docks and railways in Bristol, they probably still hold many records.

Hope this helps. Good luck and do let all us Bristol Railway Archive people know how you get on with your search. Any info you find about this accident will no doubt be recorded here for posterity!

[turningman]

Hi Jules,

Thanks for this - there's certainly some interesting stuff there. One thing I'm not sure about, though, is that the first website you've quoted states that the Bristol & Portishead Pier & Railway Company opened the line but that it was operated by the Bristol & Exeter Railway. Could it not have also been possible that my ancestor worked for the Bristol & Exeter Railway? The reason I ask is that he originated in Devon so if he worked for the Bristol & Exeter Railway I can understand how he might have ended up in the Bristol area. I'm not quite sure of the relationship between the Bristol & Portishead company opening the line and the Bristol & Exeter railway operating it.

Thanks again

Turningman

[jules]

He could indeed have worked for the B&E. It was very common in the early days of railways for one Company to promote and build a line and then, on completion (or after a few unsuccessful years), to enter an agreement with a larger Company to either operate the line on it's behalf, or lease the line to the larger Company in it's entirety.

Quite how the staff were organised I don't know though. I would have thought that the operating staff (drivers, firemen, guards etc.) would have almost certainly been employed by the operating Company.

As to the track maintenance and ground/station staff etc., my guess would be ... it could have been either Company. Maybe a better historian than I can shed light on this particular question!

I'll guess you'll need to pursue both Companies, but the Devon Link seems it may be significant ....

[turningman]

Some of you folks may remember the questions I posed here a few months ago about a relative of mine who allegedly came to a sticky end in your part of the world. Well, here's an update for you. It turns out that he died in Pill Tunnel. He was apparently decapitated in the tunnel by the 9am train from Portishead in October 1871. The first anyone new about it was when the train arrived at Clifton Bridge Station with his hat on the guard rail. His body was then taken to the Railway Inn, Pill, which I understand still exists. Does anyone know if Pill Tunnel still exists?

Thanks

Turningman

[jules]

Yes Pill Tunnel still exists and is still in use.

See here http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/index.ph ... ill_Tunnel

It was out of use for many years from the mid 80's, but was re-instated when the line was re-opened to Portbury Docks a few years ago.

Glad all us Bristol Rail users were able to help your research, but sounds like a very unfortunate accident!

[Portishead Prowler]

His body was then taken to the Railway Inn, Pill, which I understand still exists.

I discovered the other day that the Railway Inn has been shut a good couple of years now. Although, of course, it is still standing, empty. Another great shame.....

[jules]

I discovered the other day that the Railway Inn has been shut a good couple of years now.

Is that the quite large pub up by Pill the station?

Last time I was thinking what a good investment it would be if the line were finally re-opened ... Think of all those thristy commuters!