Victorian

The Great Western Railway comes to Reading

Great Western Branches

Southern Railway

Reading Station

The GWR in the twentieth century

Railway Accidents near Reading

A week after the opening of the railway an unusual accident occurred. A whirlwind broke out in the town, and after running across the Thames and dragging two fishermen into the river (and causing them to drown) swung across the new station. A large section of the roof was pulled away and carried some distance before crushing to death a young workmen still finishing the roof. The memorial to Harry East is in St Laurence's churchyard.

On Christmas Eve 1841 there was a serious accident in Sonning Cutting. A train ran into a land slip in Sonning Cutting. The train involved was a mixed goods and passenger train, with the passengers standing in wagons. Many were thrown out of the wagons or crushed between fully loaded wagons. 8 people were killed and 17 injured. This accident led to all passenger carriages having a roof added.

In September 1855 a another accident happened at Reading when a single engine was put on to the wrong line and crashed head on with a passenger train from London. 3 people were killed.