Fochriw Colliery runaway journey, 1901

Nine trams broke loose from a journey on a Fochriw Colliery drift on 12 January 1901 and ran back into the men behind, killing two men and three horses.

Cause

Improper shackling let nine loaded trams break away from a journey on a rising drift and run back into the men following it.

What happened

On Saturday 12 January 1901 the men at Fochriw Colliery were working a short shift so that they could attend the funeral of Elias Evans, killed there earlier in the week. At about noon the last journey of the day, twelve full trams, was being hauled up a drift rising 1 in 12 when the third tram parted from the fourth through improper shackling. Nine trams ran back 30 or 40 yards into men walking up the drift too close behind. Hugh James Jones was killed at once; Thomas Lewis, a haulier of 17, was crushed and died soon after being taken home. Two more men were badly injured and three horses killed.

Recorded claims

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

• On 12 January 1901 nine trams broke away from a journey being hauled up a drift at Fochriw Colliery and ran back into men walking up behind it, killing the collier Hugh James Jones and the haulier Thomas Lewis, 17. ^1,2
• Twelve full trams were being hauled up a drift rising 1 in 12 when the third parted from the fourth through improper shackling; the men were following much too closely. ²
• Three horses were also killed and two men badly injured. ^1,2
• The men were working a short Saturday shift so that they could attend the funeral of Elias Evans, killed at the colliery earlier that week. ¹
• The colliery belonged to Guest, Keen and Co. ²

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Nine trams broke loose from a journey on a Fochriw Colliery drift on 12 January 1901 and ran back into the men behind, killing…”
• Drift (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “Nine trams broke loose from a journey on a Fochriw Colliery drift on 12 January 1901 and ran back into the men behind, killing two men…”
• Haulier (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…close behind. Hugh James Jones was killed at once; Thomas Lewis, a haulier of 17, was crushed and died soon after being taken home. Two more…”
• Journey (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Nine trams broke loose from a journey on a Fochriw Colliery drift on 12 January 1901 and ran back into the…”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named 5 times in this record, first in the summary: “Nine trams broke loose from a journey on a Fochriw Colliery drift on 12 January…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh coal mining fatalities, 1901 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Accident record: James H. Jones, Fochriw No.2, 1901 — Northern Mine Research Society

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