Fochriw Colliery runaway trams, 1900

Two workers on their way out of Fochriw Colliery's No. 2 pit were killed on 5 April 1900 when trams ran away on a double parting after a hitching plate broke.

Cause

A hitching plate broke, letting trams run away on a double parting.

What happened

On 5 April 1900 Thomas John Paul, a collier's boy of 15, and David William Thomas were making their way out of the No. 2 pit at Fochriw Colliery when a hitching plate broke and trams ran away on a double parting. The runaway trams struck both and killed them.

Recorded claims

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

• On 5 April 1900 two youths at the No. 2 pit of Fochriw Colliery, Thomas John Paul, 15, and David William Thomas, were killed by runaway trams. ^1,2
• They were on their way out when trams ran away on a double parting after a hitching plate broke. ²
• The colliery belonged to the Dowlais Iron Co. Ltd. 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: “Two workers on their way out of Fochriw Colliery's No. 2 pit were killed on 5 April 1900 when trams ran away on a…”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…out of Fochriw Colliery's No. 2 pit were killed on 5 April 1900 when trams ran away on a double parting after a hitching plate broke.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Fatalities 1900 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Accident record: D.W. Thomas, Fochriw, 1900 — Northern Mine Research Society

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