Information re rail accidents

MEASWELL · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:40 pm

was just wondering if anyone knew where i could get information regarding rail accidents around 1900? I had a relative who was killed on the Ingleston bank b/w Ballan & Bacchus Marsh, i know were he was buried and a number of details handed down from generation to generation. but i would be interested if i could get my hands on any newspaper reports etc (if they are available).
would the ARHS be the best option?

drwaddles · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:47 pm

The State Library would hold archived newspaper reports from that period but they probably woulnd't be indexed, so it would be a matter of trawling through each issue until you find what you want.

The local library may also have archives of the local paper from that period. If your relative lived in somewhere distant from the crash then there may be something in the local paper from his/her home area.

The best idea is to probably to go to the State Library armed with the names of the newspapers you want to search through and the time period and then allow yourself a whole day go through the archives on microfilm.

People who talk out their asre usually have bad breath.

wongm · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:02 pm

Was it an actual collision between a trains or a derailment? I believe there is a book out there that details all of the major railway accidents in Victoria, from that you might be able to get a date, to make the newspaper scouring easier.

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MEASWELL · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:28 pm

my understanding of the accident was that he was on a trolley either going or coming back from Bacchus Marsh after organising his daughters wedding. it was a stormy night/day and there was a special train that he wasn't told about.

David Peters · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:06 pm

See if you can get hold of a copy of "Australian Railway Disasters" by Kenn Pearce I think it was in there from memory! The book is published by IPL Books .

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MEASWELL · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:23 am

thanks for that, looks like you can still get copies on the net, so i will grab one

thanks for the info

regards