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 176–200.
| Date | Surname | Given names | Designation | Location | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900-07-03 | LACK | Charles Henry | Shunter | Fremantle | Charles Lack was 36 years of age when he received fatal injuries after falling under wagons being shunted at Fremantle Station yard. Charles lived at Beaconsfield with his wife, Harriet, and their two children. He is interred at Fremantle Cemetery (METHODIST/Mon B/0217). | Open PDF |
| 1919-10-28 | LAING | Thomas | Guard | Jarnadup, Millars T & T | Thomas Laing was 23 years of age when he was run over while shunting at Millars' Jarnadup Mill. Thomas' father was driving the locomotive that struck him. | Open PDF |
| 1918-06-03 | LARKIN | Henry Vincent | Guard | Parkeston, CR | Henry Larkin was fatally injured while shunting at Parkeston. Henry was crushed between two vans, he died before reaching hospital. Henry lived at Lamington Heights with his wife, Mary, and their three children, he was interred in the Roman Catholic section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1894-08-10 | LAWLESS | John | PW Inspector | Mullewa | John Lawless died 30 minutes after his tricycle was hit by Neil McNeil & Co's ballast train on the Mullewa Line. The coroner found that his death was accidental, but that the train crew were incautious in there approach to the ballast pit. Alexander Baker, the driver, and Andrew Lange, the guard were charged with murder. The charges were dismissed by a magistrate at Geraldton Court. | Open PDF |
| 1898-02-23 | LEARSON | George | Ganger | Denmark | George Learson was a Ganger on the Millar's timber railway. George died when he fell from and was run over by the per way trolley he was operating in a dangerous manner in contravention of regulations. A coronial inquest concluded that George's death was accidental and was brought about entirely by his own recklessness. | Open PDF |
| 1937-06-15 | LIGHTFOOT | John "Jock" | Length Runner | Cottesloe | John "Jock" Lightfoot was 45 years of age when he was struck by a train, while trying to remove his tricycle from the track, and died instantly. John lived at Claremont with his wife, sons James and Albert and daughter Dorothy. John was well respected in his community and workplace, a large crowd attended his funeral when he was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/LE/0863). | Open PDF |
| 1917-09-06 | LINDSAY | William James | Porter | Golden Gate | William Lindsay was 57 years of age when he was run over and killed at Golden Gate station. William was married and his wife resided in New South Wales. He was interred at Boulder Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1884-12-26 | LINDSEY | William | Guard | Claremont | William Lindsey Died as the result of falling from a train near Claremont. It is believed that William was moving along the running board of a passenger coach checking tickets when he fell and was killed as the coach ran over him. The coach derailed and caused the train to stop. William was married and had one child at the time of his death. William lived at Fremantle and is interred at Fremantle Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 2015-02-10 | LITTLE | Allen Roy | Signal Maintainer | Guildford | Allen Little was 53 years of age when he was fatally injured by a passing train at Guilford. Allen was working on signals near the line when he was struck. Allen lived at Hamilton Hill and was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1938-02-08 | LITTLETON | John Noah | Driver | Fremantle | John Littleton was 62 years of age when he died instantly as the result of being struck and run over by a train entering Fremantle Station. He was oiling his engine at the time. John lived at Mount Lawley with his wife and they had three adult children. He was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (WESLEYAN/GA/0102). | Open PDF |
| 1914-03-27 | LIVINGSTON | Gordon Stuart Lithgow | Fireman | Clackline | Gordon Livinston was 27 years of age when he was standing on the tender of his locomotive as it passed under the bridge at Clackline, he was knocked from the tender and fell under the following wagons. He died instantly. Gordon was single and lived in Perth. His parents lived at Bridgetown. Gordon was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/FC/0211). | Open PDF |
| 1943-03-26 | LLOYD | Richard | Repairer | Cue | Richard Lloyd was 29 years age when he was fatally injured in a "Groper" trolley accident on the Northern line near Cue. Richard lived in Cue with his wife Peggy, his daughter Thelma and son Richard. He was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ROMAN CATHOLIC/MC/0355). | Open PDF |
| 1911-02-02 | LONG | Edgar Robert Jarvis | Driver | Meelon | Edgar Long was 33 years of age when he died in the derailment of locomotive Ja29. Edgar had jumped clear of the engine but was struck by following wagons as they also derailed. Edgar was married to Eunice and they lived at West Perth. Eunice survived Edgar by 41 years. They are both interred in the same grave at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/FC/0479). | Open PDF |
| 1911-08-05 | LYNCH | Francis "Frank" | Fettler | Kowtah (Near Laverton) | Frank Lynch was 55 years of age when he was fatally injured after falling from and being run over by a motorised trolley at Kowtah (Near Laverton). A following trolley also ran over him. He died of his injuries later the same day at Morgans Hospital. Frank lived at Morgans and is interred at Morgans Cemetery. Morgans, in 2016, is essentially a ghost town and the railway line was closed in the 1950s. | Open PDF |
| 1918-09-16 | LYNES | John Clarence | Guard | 77 Mile, Kurrawang woodline | John Lynes was 28 years of age when he was fatally injured while shunting at 77 mile on the Kurrawang Woodline. John died shortly afterward on the way to Kurrawang. John was single, a native of New Zealand and lived in Kalgoorlie. He was interred in the Anglican section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. John was a popular member of his community and there was a large turnout at his funeral. | Open PDF |
| 1927-08-26 | LYON | John Barker | Labourer | Meekatharra | John lyon was fatally injured when he was crushed between wagons loaded with rails and a stack of sleepers. He died later in hospital. There is no easily accessible record regarding his age, marital status or place of burial. | Open PDF |
| 1904-08-01 | LYONS | William Joseph | Fireman | Poison Gully, UDRR | William Lyons, Fireman, was 25 years of age when he was fatally injured in what was to become known as the Poison Gully railway disaster. His Driver George Geer was also killed in the derailment of G134 on the UDRR. William was single and lived with his parents in Midland Junction. He is interred at Midland Cemetery (ANGLICAN/A/0030). | Open PDF |
| 1915-03-15 | MALLON | Cecil | Navvy | Naretha, TAR | See also Michael O'Sullivan. Cecil Mallon was 28 years of age when he and Michael O'Sullivan (38) were jolted from a wagon and fell under the wheels, both died instantly. Cecil lived at Kalgoorlie and is interred at Kalgoorlie Cemetery. The train driver was tried for manslaughter and acquitted. | Open PDF |
| 1889-10-08 | MANSELL | Stephen | Fettler | Leighton | Stephen Mansell was 35 years of age when he died as the result of injuries he received when the per way trolley he was riding collided with a train at Lieghton. Stephen lived at North Fremantle with his wife Harriet and he is interred at Fremantle Cemetery (ANGLICAN/MON A/0749). | Open PDF |
| 1927-12-17 | MARSHALL | Henry "Harry" | Conductor | Yandanooka, MRWA | Harry Marshall was 44 years of age when he fell while attempting to board a moving train. The fall rendered him unconcious and he die 30 minutes later. Unaware of the tragedy, the driver took his train to the next stopping place before Harry was missed. Harry lived at Bassendean with his wife Ethel Mary and they had two daughters, Joyce (Married) and Kathleen. Harry's wife, Ethel, survived him by 51 years and died at the age of 97 in 1978. They are both interred in the same grave at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/LA/0400). | Open PDF |
| 1912-03-24 | MARTIN | Alfred E | Length runner | Tambellup | Alfred Martin was 46 years of age when he died as the result of a train hitting his per way tricycle near Tambellup. Alfred lived at Tambellup and is interred at Tambellup Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1929-03-08 | MASON | Henry "Harry" Sutcliffe | Guard | Whittakers Mill, Nth Dandalup | Harry Mason was 31 years of age when he was fatally injured while shunting at North Dandalup. Harry died of shock and blood loss at Pinjarra Hospital some time after the accident. Harry was married and lived at North Dandalup, He was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ROMAN CATHOLIC/GA/0258). | Open PDF |
| 1981-12-22 | MATHER | John | Ganger | Hines Hill | Jeffrey Biggers, Salvatore Darrigo, John Mather and John Vanden Herik were all killed when their gang was struck by a train at Hines Hill. | Open PDF |
| 1960-07-25 | MATHEWS | Thomas Henry Charles | Fettler | Rawlinna, TAR | See also: Lilosav DIMTRIJEVICH, Alfred BURFITT and Karl JUNGLING. Thomas Mathews was 55 years of age when he and three others were fatally injured near Rawlinna on the Trans Australia Railway. The motorised trolley they were riding collided with a train. | Open PDF |
| 1934-01-17 | MATTHEWS | Joseph Henry | Shunter | Fremantle | Joseph Matthews was 63 years of age when he was fatally injured while shunting at North Wharf. Joseph was struck by wagons and dragged for about 15 yards he died in Fremantle Hospital at 4pm the same day. Joseph lived at Buckland Hill with his wife cecilia and they had five adult children, Amy, Ivy, Elsie, Les and Reg. Cecilia survived Joseph by 6 years passing away at the age of 74 in 1940, they are interred together at Karrakatta Cemetery (WESLEYAN/GC/0548). | 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.