Going Off the Rails

John Hannavy is Professor Emeritus in photography and photographic history, and is also a Fellow of both the British Institute of Professional Photography and the Royal Photographic Society. He is the author of numerous books including The Encyclopaedia of Nineteenth-century Photography and Great Photographic Journeys, and is a regular contributor to Scotland magazine and Discover my past Scotland.

• INTRODUCTION – ‘The Diver’ and other stories                    900 – From Ashbourne to Ropley; a disastrous start to a new century1901 – The first postcards of railway accidents1902 – ‘I feared if I said anything I would cause a panic’ 1903 – ‘Our epidemic of railway disasters’1904 – ‘A singular mishap’1905 – Photographers were quickly on the scene1906 – At least the whisky survived undamaged1907 – Pulling the wrong lever1908 – ‘Good God! He will be in to the coal train!’1909 – Not a suitable class of engine...1910 – ‘Will you kiss me before I die?’ 1911 – ‘Good God! There is a mineral on No.1’1912 – ‘The damaged bridge bore striking testimony’ 1913  – ‘there was a block on the line at Colchester’                                                 1914 – The April day the ‘Flying Scotsman’ came off the rails 1915 – Quintinshill, the railways’ darkest day