Hendreforgan Colliery Runaway Journey, 1896

Nine boys riding illicitly up a steep incline in an empty journey of trams were thrown back down when a drawbar broke between the fourth and fifth trams. Two were killed, a 17-year-old collier boy and a 13-year-old haulier, and the other seven were all injured.

Cause

The drawbar between the fourth and fifth trams of an empty journey broke on a steep incline, and the rear trams ran back.

Contributing factors

The boys were riding the journey unlawfully.

What happened

Nine boys were riding up the incline in the empty trams when the drawbar broke and the trams they were in ran back down the slope.

Rescue & recovery

Unknown.

Investigation & inquiry

Unknown.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

None recorded.

Changes to practice & legislation

None recorded.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

Recorded claims

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

• On 15 August 1896 T. G. Williams, 17, collier boy, and Morgan Morgan, 13, assistant haulier, were killed when run over by trams. ¹
• While riding unlawfully up a steep incline in an empty journey, the drawbar between the fourth and fifth trams broke and the trams carrying nine boys ran back, killing two and injuring all the others. ²

Related terminology

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

• Haulier (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…trams. Two were killed, a 17-year-old collier boy and a 13-year-old haulier, and the other seven were all injured.”
• Incline (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Nine boys riding illicitly up a steep incline in an empty journey of trams were thrown back down when a drawbar…”
• Journey (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Nine boys riding illicitly up a steep incline in an empty journey of trams were thrown back down when a drawbar broke between the…”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named 6 times in this record, first in the summary: “Nine boys riding illicitly up a steep incline in an empty journey of trams were thrown back down when a drawbar broke between the fourth and…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (secondary) Hendreforgan Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society (Ray Lawrence)
2. (secondary) Hendreforgan disaster (Hendreforgan Colliery) — Welsh Coal Mines

Record created: 16 September 2026 · Last researched: 16 September 2026