Railway accident records from Wales have been made available, revealing harsh realities of railway work a century ago as the nation marks Railway 200 – 200 years since modern railways began.
The comprehensive new database documents working life across Welsh railways during the early 1900s, covering locations from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Pwllheli and Wrexham through to Milford Haven, Swansea and Monmouth. Users can now discover who worked on Wales’ railways, their roles, and workplace incidents they encountered.
These historical documents tell compelling human stories, including that of George Johnson, a Barry Railway pilotman who suffered a devastating injury at Coity on 20 November 1911. After his foot became trapped in rails and was crushed, Johnson lost his lower right leg. Despite returning to work over a year later as a signalman, the Barry Railway only contributed half the cost of his required artificial limb.
The Railway Work, Life and Death Project has collaborated with The National Archives to digitise these records, making 31,000 Welsh railway worker incidents accessible to researchers and families exploring their heritage.
Among the documented cases is Edith Harris, employed as a carriage cleaner on the Rhymney Railway during World War One. On 28 September 1915, she stumbled whilst crossing tracks, suffering chest bruising that prevented her working for four days. Another notable case involves Taff Vale Railway guard William Cook, who remarkably experienced 14 recorded accidents between 1900 and 1919.
Whilst most documented incidents were relatively minor, they illuminate the occupational hazards faced by railway employees during this period. Some records contain surprising details, such as Great Western Railway porter Payne, whose thumb was bitten by an intoxicated woman at Newport on 4 February 1914.
The University of Portsmouth and The National Archives have launched these Welsh records alongside Transport for Wales (TfW), with online access available through the Railway Work, Life & Death project website.
Dr Mike Esbester, Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Portsmouth’s School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature, and project co-leader, commented: “These records provide an extraordinary window into overlooked Welsh history – documenting not merely workplace activities on Welsh railways, but the personal toll of such employment on workers, families and communities.
“Sharing this resource during Railway 200 is crucial – it offers invaluable insights into ordinary people’s daily experiences, both on railways and in broader society. This achievement reflects the dedication of National Archives volunteers who have transcribed these documents over seven years.”
Dr Louise Moon, Technical Lead Heritage, Legacy & Sustainable Impact at TfW, said: “We’re thrilled to support this accessible and important project, enabling us to share additional narratives about Wales’ railway heritage and the individuals behind these accounts. Collaborative cross-sector partnerships are essential to our heritage programme as we unite industry, academic institutions and communities.”
The launch took place at Llanelli Railway Goods Shed on 23 June, a fitting venue given that the records include two accidents involving Great Western Railway ‘caller off’ Francis Creed, likely occurring within the goods shed itself. His incidents included striking his head on a trunk and burning his finger whilst loading cargo.
The Railway Work, Life & Death project represents a partnership between the University of Portsmouth, The National Railway Museum, the Modern Records Centre at the University of Warwick, working alongside The National Archives and the RMT Union.
This initiative seeks to enhance understanding of British and Irish railway workers and their workplace accidents from the 19th century through 1939. Public accessibility of this historical knowledge remains central to the project’s mission, with Welsh cases available free through the project database on their website.
