MineArchiveCoegnant Colliery runaway journey, 1917
On Friday 11 May 1917 the shackle of a tram opened while a journey was being lowered on an engine plane at Coegnant Colliery, Maesteg, and thirteen trams ran wild down the incline. The repairer Samuel Price was killed outright and his assistant John Lyons died in hospital.
| Date | 11 May 1917 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Coegnant Colliery |
| Region | Bridgend |
| Type | Haulage / Transport |
| Fatalities | 2 (Samuel Price, 55, repairer, of 10 Woodland Terrace, Caerau, and John Lyons, assistant repairer, of 10 John Street, Nantyffyllon, who died in hospital.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The jaw of the shackle on the fifth tram from the tail of the journey opened, releasing thirteen trams on the gradient.
Contributing factors
The men had not gone into the manholes as the overman told them; the runaway carried on along the straight past the point where the journey would normally have turned, and knocked out timbers, bringing down a heavy fall.
What happened
The repairers had filled fourteen empty trams with rubbish, attached to four trams of coal, on a level part of the haulage road known as Tom Howells' engine plane. The rope changers had lowered the journey only about ten yards when the shackle opened. The overman, William Rawle, followed the trams down and found Price under an overturned tram of rubbish; beyond, the runaway had knocked out timbers and brought down a fall, and Lyons was the only one of the others hurt.
Investigation & inquiry
The coroner, Lewis M. Thomas, held the inquest on the Monday, with the mines inspector Tom Waldin present.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On Friday 11 May 1917 a journey of thirteen trams broke loose on Tom Howells' engine plane at Coegnant Colliery, Maesteg, killing the repairer Samuel Price outright and fatally injuring the assistant repairer John Lyons. 1,2
- The jaw of the shackle of the fifth tram from the tail end opened as the journey was being lowered, and thirteen trams ran wild down the incline. 2
- The overman had told the men to get into the manholes while the trams were lowered, but they had gone down the engine plane towards the place where they took their dinner. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Haulage (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…with rubbish, attached to four trams of coal, on a level part of the haulage road known as Tom Howells' engine plane. The rope changers had…” - Incline (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…at Coegnant Colliery, Maesteg, and thirteen trams ran wild down the incline. The repairer Samuel Price was killed outright and his assistant…” - Journey (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “On Friday 11 May 1917 the shackle of a tram opened while a journey was being lowered on an engine plane at Coegnant Colliery, Maesteg,…” - Overman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the contributing factors: “The men had not gone into the manholes as the overman told them; the runaway carried on along the straight past the point…” - Tub (contextual relationship)
Named 8 times in this record, first in the summary: “On Friday 11 May 1917 the shackle of a tram opened while a journey was being lowered on an engine plane at…”
Sources
- (secondary) 1917 (Welsh mining fatalities by date) — Welsh Coal Mines
- (primary) The Glamorgan Gazette, 18 May 1917: Maesteg: double fatality in Coegnant Colliery — The Glamorgan Gazette (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)
Record created: 20 October 2026 · Last researched: 20 October 2026