Aberpergwm Colliery runaway tram, 1901

Two riders were killed at Aberpergwm Colliery, Glynneath, on 13 August 1901 when an empty tram ran into the timber trolley they were riding.

Cause

An empty tram ran into a trolley of timber on which the two were riding.

What happened

On 13 August 1901 William Morgan, a rider of 21, and Richard Davies, a lad of 16, were riding a trolley loaded with timber at Aberpergwm Colliery near Glynneath when an empty tram ran into it. Davies was killed on the spot and Morgan also died; the two were not found until an hour after the accident. At the inquest the overman, Griffith Lloyd, said safety points might have prevented it, and the Inspector of Mines, Mr Robson, said a banksman should have been stationed at the top of the slant. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and added the inspector's recommendation as a rider.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• On 13 August 1901 William Morgan, 21, a rider, and Richard Davies, 16, were killed at Aberpergwm Colliery, Glynneath. ¹
• An empty tram ran into a trolley of timber on which the two were riding. ^1,2
• They were not found until an hour after the accident. ²
• At the inquest the overman said safety points might have prevented the accident, and the Inspector of Mines, Mr Robson, said there should have been a banksman at the top of the slant; the jury returned accidental death and added his recommendation as a rider. ²

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Banksman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…have prevented it, and the Inspector of Mines, Mr Robson, said a banksman should have been stationed at the top of the slant. The jury…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Griffith Lloyd, said safety points might have prevented it, and the Inspector of Mines, Mr Robson, said a banksman should have been stationed at the top of…”
• Overman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…were not found until an hour after the accident. At the inquest the overman, Griffith Lloyd, said safety points might have prevented it, and the…”
• Slant (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Robson, said a banksman should have been stationed at the top of the slant. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and added the…”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…at Aberpergwm Colliery, Glynneath, on 13 August 1901 when an empty tram ran into the timber trolley they were riding.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh coal mining fatalities, 1901 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) Two lives lost at Aberpergwm pit (The Cardiff Times, 24 August 1901) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)

Record created: 9 October 2026 · Last researched: 9 October 2026