Lochgelly Colliery haulage accident, 1910

A runaway hutch caught two wheelers travelling up a brae in the Nellie Pit of the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company on 14 January 1910, fatally injuring both.

Cause

A runaway hutch on a brae.

What happened

On 14 January 1910 two wheelers in the Nellie Pit at Lochgelly, owned by the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company, were travelling up a brae, a steep haulage road, when a runaway hutch came down it and caught them. David Leslie, 26, and Michael O'Hara, 18, were fatally injured.

Recorded claims

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

• On 14 January 1910 two wheelers were fatally injured by a runaway hutch at Lochgelly's Nellie Pit. ^1,2,3
• They were travelling up a brae when the runaway hutch caught them. ^4,2
• They were David Leslie, 26, and Michael O'Hara, 18. ^4,3
• The pit was owned by the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Co. Ltd. ^1,2

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: “…Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company, were travelling up a brae, a steep haulage road, when a runaway hutch came down it and caught them. David…”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “A runaway hutch caught two wheelers travelling up a brae in the Nellie Pit of the…”

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Lochgelly (Nellie), 14 January 1910 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: David Leslie, Lochgelly Nellie Pit, 1910 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Michael O'Hara, Lochgelly Nellie Pit, 1910 — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (primary) Lochgelly Colliery — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026