Newbattle Colliery crane accident, 1869

A loaded crane at the Marquis of Lothian's Newbattle Colliery overpowered the six men switching it into single gear on 9 October 1869, killing two labourers.

Cause

A crane changed into single gear while loaded ran away and overpowered the men handling it.

What happened

On Saturday 9 October 1869 six men at the Marquis of Lothian's Newbattle Colliery, near Dalkeith, were putting a crane into single gear while it still had its weight on. The load overpowered them, and two labourers, both 50, J. Buchan and James Shimm, were killed.

Recorded claims

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

• On 9 October 1869 two labourers of 50, J. Buchan and James Shimm, were killed above ground at Newbattle Colliery, near Dalkeith. ^1,2
• Six men were putting a crane into single gear with its weight on when it overpowered them; Buchan and Shimm were the two killed. ^1,2
• The colliery belonged to the Marquis of Lothian. ^1,2

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: “A loaded crane at the Marquis of Lothian's Newbattle Colliery overpowered the six men switching it into single gear on 9 October…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Mining victims, 1860s, S (Shield) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's list of mining victims)
2. (secondary) Fatal accidents in Scottish mines, 1869 — Scottish Mining Website

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026