Great Thorpe Railway Disaster 1874: Heroes, Victims, Survivors

The Great Thorpe Railway Disaster of 1874 was a head-on collision between two trains at Norwich Station, resulting in the deaths of 28 men, women, and children. Phyllida Scrivens' book explores the personal stories behind the names, using extensive research, non-fiction narrative, and dramatized events. It is considered the most serious collision between trains on a single line of rails in the country.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 20 September 2021
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The Great Thorpe Railway Disaster of 1874, a tragic event that unfolded less than half a mile from the site of the fatal collision, is the third title written by Norwich writer and biographer Phyllida Scrivens. On September 10, 1874, a momentary misunderstanding between the Night Inspector and a young Telegraph Clerk led to an inevitable head-on collision at Norwich Station. The residents of the picturesque riverside village of Thorpe-Next-Norwich were startled by a deafening peal of thunder, causing them to rush towards a scene of devastation. Surgeons were urgently summoned from the city to attend to the injured and deceased, who were transported to a nearby inn and boatyard. This tragic incident impacted every class of Victorian society, including ex-soldiers, landowners, clergymen, doctors, seamstresses, saddlers, domestic servants, and a beautiful heiress. Local and national newspapers extensively covered the story, publishing details of subsequent deaths, manslaughter trials, and the outcomes of record-breaking compensation claims. The Board of Trade Inquiry concluded that this was the most severe collision between trains meeting on a single line of rails in the country to that point.

In her book, Phyllida Scrivens pays tribute to the 28 men, women, and children who lost their lives in this disaster. Through extensive research, non-fiction narrative, informed speculation, and dramatized events, she delves into the personal stories behind the names, previously recorded only as a list. This book offers a deeper understanding of the lives and circumstances of those affected by this tragedy, providing a compassionate and humanizing perspective on a historical event that continues to resonate.

Weight: 516g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526764027