A "RAILWAY disaster" on the Worcester-Cheltenham line was reported by Berrow's Journal this week exactly 100 years ago, with five people killed and more than 50 injured.

"Tidings have come in of a serious disaster on the Honeybourne and Cheltenham Railway, now in the course of construction. At Stanway Grounds, near Broadway and Toddington, a viaduct has lately been built and last week was approaching completion. The 15 arches running parallel with the Broadway-Winchcombe Road attracted the eye of the traveller, and the viaduct was the most important engineering work so far commenced on the new railway.

"However, at about 8 o'clock yesterday morning, a gang of men with a steam crane were working on arch No.10 when, without warning, the arch suddenly collapsed, and with a great crash, workmen, the crane, masonry and all things on the arch fell to the earth, nearly 40ft below. Many other workmen were engaged near, and there was great excitement and confusion.

"Many rushed to give assistance to the injured and were thus engaged when arch No.9 came crashing down, inflicting further injuries on some. About 35 minutes later, arch No.8 fell, and it was feared that the remaining arches might collapse like a pack of cards. This, however, did not occur, though arch No.7 developed cracks the following day and was regarded as doomed.

"The four workmen who were killed came from the Broadway and Winchcombe areas, including 25- year-old Frederick Gibbons, who had only been married for five months. The many injured were taken to various hospitals over a wide area."

By ill fate, there was also another railway accident the next day, though this time, mercifully, without death or injury. The Journal of 1903 reported: "This morning, on the Great Western Railway two miles from Hereford, a loaded goods train from Worcester broke down just as another goods train was approaching.

"The waggons collided, and between 20 and 30 trucks were scattered over the permanent way, which was torn up for a considerable distance."

A "RAILWAY disaster" on the Worcester-Cheltenham line was reported by Berrow's Journal this week exactly 100 years ago, with five people killed and more than 50 injured.

"Tidings have come in of a serious disaster on the Honeybourne and Cheltenham Railway, now in the course of construction. At Stanway Grounds, near Broadway and Toddington, a viaduct has lately been built and last week was approaching completion. The 15 arches running parallel with the Broadway-Winchcombe Road attracted the eye of the traveller, and the viaduct was the most important engineering work so far commenced on the new railway.

"However, at about 8 o'clock yesterday morning, a gang of men with a steam crane were working on arch No.10 when, without warning, the arch suddenly collapsed, and with a great crash, workmen, the crane, masonry and all things on the arch fell to the earth, nearly 40ft below. Many other workmen were engaged near, and there was great excitement and confusion.

"Many rushed to give assistance to the injured and were thus engaged when arch No.9 came crashing down, inflicting further injuries on some. About 35 minutes later, arch No.8 fell, and it was feared that the remaining arches might collapse like a pack of cards. This, however, did not occur, though arch No.7 developed cracks the following day and was regarded as doomed.

"The four workmen who were killed came from the Broadway and Winchcombe areas, including 25- year-old Frederick Gibbons, who had only been married for five months. The many injured were taken to various hospitals over a wide area."

By ill fate, there was also another railway accident the next day, though this time, mercifully, without death or injury. The Journal of 1903 reported: "This morning, on the Great Western Railway two miles from Hereford, a loaded goods train from Worcester broke down just as another goods train was approaching.

"The waggons collided, and between 20 and 30 trucks were scattered over the permanent way, which was torn up for a considerable distance."