Pelton Colliery tubs accident, 1866

At the end of their shift on 12 January 1866 a group of boys at Pelton Colliery rode out on a set of laden tubs, against the colliery's rules, and collided with a runaway set from a branch. Five, aged 12 to 17, were killed and others injured.

Cause

A set of laden tubs the boys were riding collided with another set that had run away down the engine plane.

Contributing factors

Riding the tubs contrary to the Special Rules and a posted notice; the attempt at a man-riding set had been abandoned.

What happened

Pelton Colliery belonged to Lord Dunsany and Brothers. With the day's work over, the boys got into a set of full tubs being hauled out by engine and rope, though a man at the start of the engine plane had orders not to allow riding and had turned several off. On the way the set met another from a branch that had escaped out of control.

Rescue & recovery

Unknown.

Investigation & inquiry

The inspector, Mr Atkinson, wrote that it was very difficult to prevail on men and boys to walk long distances underground where they could ride, and that separate travelling roads might help but would be all but impracticable in many old mines.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

Unknown.

Changes to practice & legislation

Unknown.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

People

5 of the 5 who died are named in the archive; the rest are not named in the sources read for this record.

• William Cowell (d. 1866) · victim, 1866 — Putter, 17.
• Roger Gray (d. 1866) · victim, 1866 — Driver, 14 (NMRS spells Rodger Grey).
• Thomas Harrison (d. 1866) · victim, 1866 — Flat keeper, 14.
• Frank Shotton (d. 1866) · victim, 1866 — Driver, 12.
• Robert Wright (d. 1866) · victim, 1866 — Incline boy, 13.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• NMRS spells Rodger Grey, DMM Roger Gray. (disputed) ^2,1

Recorded claims

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

• Five youths were killed on 12 January 1866 when the set of tubs they rode collided with a runaway set. ¹
• DMM: killed by tubs in engine plane when riding contrary to orders, and to a printed rule or notice; arising from a collision. ²
• NMRS spells Rodger Grey, DMM Roger Gray. (disputed) ^2,1

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…the end of their shift on 12 January 1866 a group of boys at Pelton Colliery rode out on a set of laden tubs, against the colliery's rules, and…”
• Man-riding (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s contributing factors: “…contrary to the Special Rules and a posted notice; the attempt at a man-riding set had been abandoned.”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…1866 a group of boys at Pelton Colliery rode out on a set of laden tubs, against the colliery's rules, and collided with a runaway set from…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Pelton Colliery Accident – Chester-le-Street – 1866 — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) Pelton Colliery (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 17 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026