25 DECEMBER 1841, Page 6

One of the most frightful railway accidents that ever happened,

oc- curred yesterday morning to a luggage-train on the Great Western line, halfway between Twyford and Reading. There were thirty-seven pas- sengers, chiefly stone-masons, with their wives. The passenger-car- riages were next to the engine ; and behind them was a long train of waggons, heavily laden with oysters, Christmas cheer, and other goods. A mass of earth fell from a cutting as the engine and tender passed, and threw the train off the rails : the engine ran into the cutting and was stopped, and the passenger-carriages were upset or crushed between it and the luggage waggons. The cries of the wounded and dying baffle description. After some time, eight persons were pulled out quite dead; and all the other passengers were more or less injured, sixteen very severely. One man's scull was dreadfully fractured ; another's foot was so crushed that a portion of the bones had to he removed. Three per- sons suffered concussion of the spine, and their recovery is doubtful. Medical attendance was promptly on the spot; and the wounded were conveyed with all desirable speed to the County Hospital at Reading.

An inquest is sitting on the bodies. Neither the engineer nor stoker was hurt.