This compilation contains the names of more than 300 railwaymen (ie employees, not public passengers) who were killed or died while on duty between 1879 and today. Many workers have also suffered injuries, some life-threatening, which it has not been possible to include.
392 records found. Showing 276–300.
| Date | Surname | Given names | Designation | Location | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1879-02-18 | PEARSON | Charles | Guard | Rockingham-Jarrahdale Rly | Charles Pearson died as the result of falling from a train on the Rockingham - Jarrahdale railway line. Charles was acting as the guard of the train when he fell and was fatally injured. Charles' was the first recorded death of an employee on a WA railway. | Open PDF |
| 1905-01-22 | PENNEFATHER | Thomas Frederick | Fuelman | Southern Cross | Thomas Pennefather was 49 years of age when he was struck and killed by a passing express after he fell asleep near the line at Southern Cross. Thomas lived in Southern Cross with his wife Honoria and they had twelve children. Thomas was interred at the Southern Cross Cemetery. A benefit was held for the support of Honoria and those children still living with her. | Open PDF |
| 1909-09-16 | PHILLIPS | Thomas | PW Inspector | Cue | Thomas Phillips was 51 years of age when he was fatally injured in a fall from a train between Cue and Day Dawn at about 8:00 a.m. Thomas was taken to Cue Hospital where he died at 9:40 a.m. Thomas lived at Cue with his wife Emma and they are both interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/FC/0256). | Open PDF |
| 1913-04-03 | PHILPOTT | Walter | Labourer | Midland Junction | Walter Philpott was 50 years of age when he was caught in the coal grab of a crane at the Midland Loco Depot and died instantly. Walter lived at Midland with his wife Ada and their eight children. Walter was interred at Midland Cemetery (ANGLICAN/C/0045). | Open PDF |
| 1929-01-01 | PINCHEN | Robert Cyril | Fettler | 9 Mile Kurrawang Woodline | Robert Pinchen, a Fettler, received fatal head injuries when the motorised trolley he and others were riding derailed throwing all the occupants onto the ground. The accident occurred at the 9 mile peg on the Kurrawang woodline. Robert, who was also known as Robert Lewis lived at Kurrawang and had no relatives in WA. The Coroner found that his death was accidental. | Open PDF |
| 1918-12-15 | POPE | Edward Simon | Guard | Gwindinup | Edward Pope was 39 years of age when fell while attempting to board his moving brake van and sustained fatal injuries. Edward lived at South Bunbury with his wife Josephine and their young children. Edward was interred at Bunbury Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1923-08-31 | PRENTICE | Alexander | Head Shunter | Fremantle | Alexander Prentice was 53 years of age when he died instantly as the result of a shunting accident at Fremantle Railway Yard. The accident occurred as Alexander was attempting to execute a dangerous "Fly" shunt. Alexander lived with his wife, Annie, in Alma Street fremantle and he was interred at Fremantle Cemetery (PRESBYTERIAN/MON E/0286). | Open PDF |
| 1914-03-25 | QUINN | Michael | Porter | Midland Junction | Michael Quinn was 27 years of age when he was fatally injured by being run down by a locomotive while cleaning points at Midland Junction. The accident occurred on Thursday 19 March and Michael died on the following Wednesday. Michael lived in Midland with his wife and was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ROMAN CATHOLIC/EC/0118A). | Open PDF |
| 1952-12-18 | QUINN | William O'Hanlon | Length Runner | Mullewa | William Quinn was 57 years of age when the Per Way Trolley he was driving collided head-on with a train in a cutting about 6 miles (10 km) North of Mullewa. William died instantly. William resided in Mullewa with his wife Gladys and he was interred at The Roman Catholic section of the Bunbury Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1934-08-08 | RAE | Kenneth Princep | Assistant Engineer | Northam Racecourse | Kenneth Princep Rae, a nephew of Leiutenant Governer Sir James Mitchell, was 23 years of age when he fell from the Weedex train, was run over and sustained fatal injuries. Kenneth was a recent graduate of UWA and was engaged by the WAGR as an assistant engineer for only a short time prior to the accident. Kenneth was single at the time of the accident and is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (Anglican/ZB/0372). | Open PDF |
| 1923-11-05 | RAWLINGS | Francis Raymond | Porter | Narrogin | Francis Rawlings was 28 years of age when he was run down by a trian and killed as he crossed the line at Narrogin. Francis was single and lived with his parents at East Perth. He was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ROMAN CATHOLIC/DB/0564). | Open PDF |
| 1906-02-28 | REARDON | James Joseph | Fettler | Kalgoorlie | James Reardon was 38 years of age when he died as the result of being run over by a reversing train in the "Boulder" dock at Kalgoorlie station. James was married and his wife lived in Bunbury. They had no children. James was interred at Kalgoorlie Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1945-01-19 | REED | Raymond William | Repairer | Broad Arrow | Raymond Reed was 47 years of age when he was fatally injured in the afternoon when he was struck by the north-bound Leonora train approximately 9 miles (14.5km) North of Broad Arrow on the Kalgoorlie - Leonora line. Although an ambulance with a doctor in attendance picked him up he died before reaching Broad Arrow. Raymond lived at Broad Arrow with his wife Elenor and children Ronald, Olive and Dorothy. He is interred at Kalgoorlie Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 2020-12-24 | REID | Greg | Driver | Jumperkine | Driver Greg Reid died when his train headed by Pacific National locomotive NR80 collided with the rear of a stationary loaded grain train at Jumperkine in the Avon valley adjacent to Bells Rapids and the Walyunga National Park. Greg was killed when the rearmost grain hopper rode up over his cab causing extensive damage and filling it with spilled grain as the result of the collision. It is believed that Greg Reid was from New Zealand. ©MM 2020 | Open PDF |
| 1923-12-13 | REIGER | George | Fettler | South Kalamunda | George Reiger, a fettler, was 48 year of age when he was struck and killed by a train at South Kalamunda. George was believed to be walking back to his camp when he fell asleep between the rails of the permanent way. He was struck and killed by a passing train. George's wife and family were residing at Victoria Park. | Open PDF |
| 1952-11-24 | REILLY | Daniel Francis | Examiner | Narrogin | Daniel Reilly was 48 years of age when he was fatally injured in a shunting accident at Narrogin. Daniel was checking the couplings on wagons in a train being made up for Collie when other wagons were shunted onto them. Daniel lived in Narrogin with his family and he was interred at the Romac Catholic section of the Narrogin Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1927-12-22 | RELPH | William Henry | Fettler | Kalgoorlie | William Relph was aged about 45 when he was killed instantly when his Per way Tricycle collided with a train near the Kanowna Road crossing between Kalgoorlie and Parkeston. William lived in Kalgoorlie with his wife and they had a twenty year old son. William was interred in the Anglican portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1937-05-15 | REYNOLDS | Arthur William Terence | Guard | Whittakers Mill, Nth Dandalup | Arthur Reynolds was 26 years of age when he was fatally injured in a shunting accident at Whittaker's Mill in North Dandalup. Arthur was single and lived with his parents at Pinjarra. He was interred at Pinjarra Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1971-12-10 | RHODES | P.J. | Track Labourer | Mt. Newman Railway | P. J. Rhodes was fatally injured while engaged in drilling sleepers (in situ) for additional dog spikes. He was struck by ballast wagons being propelled along the line. DMP Ref. FS-MG-294-354 | Open PDF |
| 1897-02-23 | RISELEY | Thomas Randell | Shunter | Kalgoorlie | Thomas Riseley was 21 when he was killed instatntly while engaged in shunting operation at Kalgoorlie. Thomas' brother was the driver of the engine involved in the accident.The original list shows deceased is Ernest Riseley while contemporary newspaper reports indicate his name was Thomas Riseley. Ernest, an engine driver, was Thomas' brother. Thomas lived in Kalgoorlie but there is no information relating to where he is buried. | Open PDF |
| 1908-11-22 | RITCHIE | James C. | Length Runner | Canegrass | James Ritchie was the length runner at Canegrass on the Kalgoorlie - Menzies line when he died as the result of his per way trolley colliding with a train. James lived at Goongarie. There is no information regarding his age, marital status or where he was buried. | Open PDF |
| 1955-11-09 | RIVETTI | Gennaro | Shunter | Collie | Gennaro Rivetti was 24 years of age when he died as the result of a shunting accident at Collie Shunting Yard. Gennaro lived in Collie and is interred at Collie Cemetery (ROMAN CATHOLIC/F/67). | Open PDF |
| 1935-05-26 | ROBERTSON | Douglas John | Guard | Sons of Gwalia Woodline | Douglas Robertson was 34 years of age when he was fatally injured at the 8 miles gate on the Gwalia Wood Line. Douglas fell as he alighted from a water tank attached to the engine, he was unable to get clear and was struck by right hand cylinder and the drain cocks. Douglas died later that night in the Leonora Hospital. Douglas lived in Leonora with his with Alice and their 5 sons. He was interred at the Leonora Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1965-03-15 | ROBERTSON | John Duff | Battery Repairer | Perth Carriage Sheds | John Robertson was 51 years of age when he collapsed and died while carrying out his duties at the Perth Carriage Sheds. John lived at Maniana (Queens Park) with his wife Isobel and he is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (PRESBYTERIAN/DC/0497). Isobel survived John by 35 years and passed away in 2000 at the age of 79. | Open PDF |
| 1898-04-07 | ROONEY | John | Repairer | Southern Cross | John Rooney was 45 years of age when he was run down while trying to remove his tricycle from the line. He lived at southern cross and was interred at Southern Cross Cemetery. John was born in County Clare, Ireland. A coroner's inquest determined that John's death was accidental. | Open PDF |
Death or serious injury, in the days before compulsory workers’ compensation insurance, could, and often did, result in the victim’s family being left destitute. The families often had to rely, at least in the short term, on the charity of their community and the generosity of the injured or deceased worker’s colleagues.
Many men, stationed at outlying depots, were faced with such rudimentary medical facilities that an injury which may have been survivable in a large town or city could and often did prove fatal.
Contemporary newspaper reports and edited transcripts of coronial inquiries have been included where they are available. Some photographs of these railwaymen have been made available by descendants and other family members. Other information welcome and can be sent to archivist@railheritagewa.org.au
Caution: Contemporary newspaper reports, particularly those prior to 1920, sometimes contain explicit descriptions of the injuries sustained by the deceased person. Some readers may find these descriptions offensive and in bad taste by today’s standards. However, they reflect the norms of the times and are reproduced as found.