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 326–350.
| Date | Surname | Given names | Designation | Location | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912-02-12 | SMILLIE | Hugh | Navvy | Naraling | Hugh Smillie was only 17 years of age when he was run over and killed by ballast wagons at naraling. Hugh's father was seriously injured in the same accident. Hugh lived in Geraldton with his parents and he was interred in the Wesleyan section of the Geraldton Cemetery. In newspaper reports of the accident his surname was consistently steted as being "Smilie", this is incorrect. | Open PDF |
| 1922-12-30 | SMITH | Andrew | Shunter | Brunswick Junction | Andrew smith was 23 years of age when he was fatally injured while shunting at Brunswick Junction. He died at the scene. Andrew lived in Bunbury with his parents and is interred at the congregational section of Bunbury Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1944-05-21 | SMITH | Ernest Francis | Guard | Yalgoo | Ernest Smith was 46 years of age when he was fatally injured while shunting at Yalgoo. He died the following morning in Geraldton Hospital. Ernest was stationed at Mullewa but kept his residence at Bunbury. He was interred at Bunbury Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1922-06-29 | SMITH | Stephen | Ganger | West Guildford | Stephen Smith was 54 years of age when he was fatally injured by being struck by a train at West Guildford. Stephen died while being transported to Hospital. He lived in Perth and was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (GENERAL/AA/0092). | Open PDF |
| 1938-02-22 | SMITH | William Henry | Length Runner | Gwindinup | William Smith was 57 years of age when he died instantly as the result of his per way trolley being struck by a truck at a level Crossing about three miles from Donnybrook. William lived at Boyanup with his wife. They had an adult daughter. | Open PDF |
| 1976-11-05 | SOMERVILLE | John | Driver | Cowra, Mt Newman Rly | John Somerville died as the result of a collision at the Mount Newman Railway, Cowra Workshop. No further information is available. | Open PDF |
| 1936-12-21 | SPACKMAN | William George | Ganger | Goomalling | William Spackman was 40 years of age when he was fatally injured by falling in front of a per way trolley that he and members of the per way gang were pushing. The accident occurred near Goomalling. William lived at Goomalling with his wife Ethel and three young children. He was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/LE/0765). | Open PDF |
| 1916-05-18 | SPENCER | Alexander George | Length Runner | Coolup | Alexander Spencer was 51 years of age when he died as the result of injuries sustained when his tricycle was run down by the No.12 passenger train from Bunbury to Perth. Alexander lived at Pinjarra with his wife Ann, three daughters and a son. He was interred at the Pinjarra Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1920-07-16 | STAFFORD | Edward Bradford | Fireman | East Perth | Edward Stafford was 26 years of age when he was struck and killed by a locomotive at East Perth. Edward was a returned serviceman, having served with the 10th Light Horse Regiment in the Great War. Edward lived at Fremantle and is interred at the Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/OC/0252). | Open PDF |
| 1899-06-24 | STANDING | Lewis (Originally reported as Louis) | Guard | Hoffmans Mill, Millars | Lewis Standing was between 30 and 40 years of age when he was run over by timber wagons at Yarloop. He was previously employed at the Fremantle loco depot. Lewis lived at Yarloop and he was interred at Fremantle Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1970-01-15 | STANLEY | Jeffrey | Number Taker | Albany | Geoffrey Stanley was 20 years of age when he was struck and killed by a locomotive while engaged in his duties as a number taker at Albany. | Open PDF |
| 1910-07-29 | STARRIT | John | Guard | Margaret River, MK&Jco. | John Starrit was 37 years of age when he was fatally injured when his train was derailed at ba washaway. John was thrown into a flooded stream and though rescued he died while receiving medical attention at Karridale. John lived in Busselton with his wife Annie and their four children. He is interred at Busselton Pioneers Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1945-06-12 | STENT | Albert George | Signalman | Midland Junction | Albert Stent, a signalman at Bellevue, was 49 years of age when he was badly burnt on 1 June 1945. Albert was attempting to douse a wagon fire at the time he was burnt. Albert succumbed to his injuries on 12 June 1945. Information provided by his daughter-in-law, Dorothy Stent (92) and his grandson, Kevin (72). Albert lived at Railway Parade Bassendean opposite the railway station for many years and is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (1896-1945) | Open PDF |
| 1947-02-06 | STEVENS | Thomas William Henry | Car & Wagon Examiner | Bassendean | Thomas Stevens, a veteran of the Great War (1914-1918), was 59 years of age when he was run over and killed at Bassendean. It was surmised at the time that Thomas was examining the under carriage of a wagon when it was moved by another van. Thomas lived at Bassendean and was married to Eileen May (Deceased 1940) and they had three children. Thomas was interred with Eileen at the Guildford Cemetery (ANGLICAN /D/0020). | Open PDF |
| 1926-11-10 | STEWART | Hugh | Shunter | Armadale | Hugh Stewart was 26 years of age when he was fatally injured in a shunting accident at Armadale station yard during shunting operations. He died of his injuries some hours later. Hugh was single and lived at Armadale. He was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (PRESBYTERIAN/FA/0359). | Open PDF |
| 1927-06-02 | STOKES | Charles Hartley | Engineer | Mogumber, MRWA | Charles Stokes was 47 Years of age when he was fatally injured in a fall from the Mogumber railway bridge. He was standing on a scaffold when a girder swung and knocked him 35 feet (10.7 metres) to the ground. He died at the Perth Public Hospital some time later. Charles lived at Midland with his wife Gladys and their four young children, he was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (Anglican/ZA/0253). | Open PDF |
| 1926-07-24 | STONE | John | Carpenter | Cannington | John Stone (a.k.a. John Sten) aged 64 was severely injured when his legs were crushed by a heavy pile due to a loading rope snapping. John survived the accident and a subsequent operation only to succumb to a pulmonary embolism the following day. John lived in North Perth with his wife Ellen and he was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery | Open PDF |
| 1983-11-16 | STYLIANOU | Costas (Con) | Shunter | Avon Yard | Costos (Con) Stylianou was 29 years of age when he died. Costas died when he slipped and fell from the wet step of a locomotive at the CBH siding in Avon Yard. The accident happened near the end of his shift between 10:30 and 11:00pm on a rainy night. When he fell he hit or was hit by an axle box or some other protrusion and died at the scene. He was 29 years of age. Costas lived at Northam with his wife and young child. He is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (Greek Orthodox/EA/0032). | Open PDF |
| 1896-12-14 | SULLIVAN | Matthew | Shunter | Coolgardie | Matthew Sullivan was 30 years of age when he was fatally injured by falling under wagons while shunting at Coolgardie. He lived in Coolgardie and is interred at Coolgardie Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1921-03-01 | SULLIVAN | Patrick | Ganger | Coolgardie | Patrick Sullivan (also reported as O'Sullivan) was fatally injured when his per way trolley was overtaken by a special train while he was on his way home to Coolgardie. He died later in the Kalgoorlie Hospital. Patrick's family lived at West Perth and he was interred in the Roman Catholic portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1902-09-25 | SULLIVAN | Daniel | Plate-layer | 22 Mile Kurrawang Woodline | Daniel Sullivan, a middle-aged Plate Layer was fatally injured when he was struck and run over by a Per Way trolley at 22 mile on the Kurrawang Woodline. He died later in the Government Hospital in Kalgoorlie. Daniel was single, lived at Kurrawang and is interred in the Roman Catholic section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1947-07-14 | SUNDERLAND | Aubrey John Joseph | Shunter | Northam | Aubrey Sunderland was 38 years of age when he was fatally injured while engaged in shunting operations at Northam. He died in the Northam Hospital at 5 a.m. the following morning. Aubrey was married and had three children, his family resided in Perth. He is interred at Northam Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1953-03-26 | SUTHERLAND | George Arthur | District Engineer | Wagin | George Sutherland was 46 years of age when he was fatally injured when his car ran off the Great Southern Highway near Piesseville. He died later in the Wagin Hospital. George lived in Narrogin with his family and is memorialised in the Karrakatta Cemetery (Crematorium Rose Garden/Wall M/0154). | Open PDF |
| 1946-04-27 | TAIT | James | Goods Porter | Fremantle | James Tait was 57 years of when he was severely scalded as a steam crane toppled over. He died later in hospital. James lived at South Fremantle with his wife Sarah and he is interred at Fremantle Cemetery (SALVATION ARMY/MON JJ/0013). | Open PDF |
| 1939-11-03 | TAYLOR | Robert | Driver | Lakewood | Robert Taylor, Engine Driver, died when he fell from the cab of his locomotive at Lakewood. Robert lived in Kalgoorlie and is interred in the Roman Catholic section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. Robert was heavily involved with a number of community and sporting organisations at the time of his death. | 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.