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 301–325.
| Date | Surname | Given names | Designation | Location | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1897-11-11 | RUDDOCK | Robert | Repairer | Moonyoonooka | Robert Ruddock died in Geraldton Hospital shortly after being seriously injured while unloading rails at Moonyoonooka nine miles (15.4km) from Geraldton. One end of the rail fell from the truck and the other end flew up and struck him in the abdomen, inflicting fatal injuries. No other information is currently available. | Open PDF |
| 1915-08-21 | RUSSELL | Alexander | Guard | 13 Mile, Kurramia woodline | Alexander Russell, a guard, was fatally injured while shunting at 63 mile on the Kurramia Woodline. Alexander lived at Kurramia with his wife. | Open PDF |
| 1901-04-02 | RYAN | Cornelius "Con" Joseph | Guard | Jarrahdale | Cornelius "Con" Ryan was 27 years of age when he died as the the result of a shunting accident at Jarrahdale. He told witnesses that his foot caught in a crossing frog as he attempted to uncouple and he fell between two wagons and received injuries that ultimately proved fatal. He was born in Ireland and was the son of Phillip and Margaret, his brother Joseph was the manager at the Jarrahdale Timber Mill. He died at Perth Hospital later the same day and was interred at the Roman Catholic section of East Perth Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1887-03-30 | RYAN | Thomas | Navvy | Beverley | Thomas Ryan was 28 years of age when he died as the result of being run over by railway wagons. Thomas lived at york and is interred at York Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1960-02-29 | SANDERSON | Edward | Guard | Koolanooka | Edward Sanderson was 48 years of age when he died as the result of a shunting accident at Koolanooka 63 miles (108km) South of Mullewa. Edward lived at Mullewa and his ashes were scattered in the Garden of Rememberance at Karrakatta Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1912-07-09 | SAVILLE | Archibald Turnley | Guard | Kalgoorlie | Archibald Saville was 44 years of age when he was fatally injured as he alighted from his brake van into the path of wagons being shunted on an adjacent road. Wiliiam died at the scene. He lived in Kalgoorlie with his wife, Anna, and he was interred at the Congregational section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1957-07-29 | SCHARENGUIVEL | Arthur Russel | Porter | Perth | Arthur Scharenguivel was 46 years of age when collapsed and died of natural causes while on duty at Perth Station. Arthur lived at Victoria Park and was Cremated at Karrakatta. | Open PDF |
| 1934-10-18 | SCOTT | Eli | Guard | Whittakers Mill, Nth Dandalup | Eli Scott was 50 years of age when he died as the result of the wagon he was riding derailing and overturning. The violence of the derailment threw him under an attached wagon as it also derailed and overturned. Eli was already dead from horrendous injuries when assistance reached him. Eli lived at North Dandalup with his wife, Violet and they had married daughter. He was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/XC/0171). | Open PDF |
| 1959-06-22 | SEATON | Dudley | Guard | Corrigin | Dudley Seaton was 46 years old when he died as the result of a shunting accident at Corrigin. Dudley was survived by his wife Anna and their five children. Dudley lived in Merredin and is interred at Merredin Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1916-09-21 | SEATON | Robert | Head Shunter | Fremantle | Robert Seaton was 35 years of age when he was fatally injured while shunting on Victoria Quay at Fremantle. Robert died later the same day at fremantle Hospital. Robert lived at Cottesloe Beach with his wife, Ann and he was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (WESLEYAN/BC/0272). | Open PDF |
| 1928-03-06 | SETTLE | Edward Mortimer | Electrical fitter | Perth | Edward Settle was aged 49 when he was fatally injured in a fall into a lift well at the Perth Central Railway Station. Although the fall was only about ten feet (3 metres) Edward sustained a fractured skull which proved fatal as he was lifted out of the lift well. Edward lived at Cottesloe with his wife, Elizabeth and their four children. He was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/LA/0154). | Open PDF |
| 1927-10-20 | SHADFORTH | Joseph Henry | Guard | Nanga Brook, Millars Timber & Trading | Joseph Henry Shadforth was 29 years of age when he was fatally injured in a shunting accident at Nanga Brook. Joseph lived at Cookernup with his wife, Adelaide and daughter Hazel and he was interred at Cookernup Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1926-05-02 | SHARPE | Edward | Fettler | Young Siding | Edward Sharpe fatally injured when a Per Way trolley derailed on the points at Youngs Siding, near Denmark on 28 April 1926, he died four days later on 2 May 1926. | Open PDF |
| 1923-04-20 | SHAW | Thomas | Painter | Perth | Thomas Shaw was 61 years of age when fell from a signal he was painting and died from the injuries he sustained. Thomas lived at Claremont and is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/KA/0607). | Open PDF |
| 1951-09-08 | SHEARD | Albert Robert | Length Runner | Tambellup | Albert Sheard was 44 years of age when he was fatally injured in a head on collision between his motor tricycle and a train. Albert died later of his injuries without regaining conciousness. The train crew were unaware that there was any other traffic on the line until the moment of impact. Albert lived in a camp at Tambellup with his wife and seven children. Mrs Sheard was expecting another child. Albert was interred at Katanning Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1899-06-29 | SHEERAN | Hannibal "Harry" Charles Patrick | Foreman Shunter | Perth Yard | Harry Sheeran was 28 years of age when he was fatally run over in the Perth shunting yard. Harry and his family had recently arrive in WA from Victoria and Harry was learning the yard. They lived in Perth with their two children. Harry was interred at Fremantle Cemetery and he is remembered in a special memorial at the Fremantle Cemetery (Heritage Trail/Skinner Street Headstones/0029). | Open PDF |
| 1945-03-11 | SHEPHERD | Harold | Fireman | East Perth | Harold Shepherd was 26 years of age when he was fatally injured in a fall from the tender of a locomotive while taking coal at the East Perth Loco Depot. He died a short time later in Perth Hospital. Harold was single and lived with his parents at Maddington. A coronial enquiry determined that his death was an accident. | Open PDF |
| 1925-12-16 | SIMMONS | Wilfred | Checker | Perth Goods | Wilfred Simmons was 47 years of age when he collapsed and died suddenly while performing his duties at the Perth Goods shed. Harold died of natural causes. He lived at North Perth with his wife Charlotte and he is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/MA/0396). | Open PDF |
| 1900-07-05 | SIMS | Charles A W | Head Shunter | Midland Junction | Charles Sims died as the result of injuries susteained while shunting at Midland. Charles was interred in the Wesleyan Section of the Guildford Cemetery. No further information is readily available. | Open PDF |
| 1925-06-10 | SINCLAIR | Arthur Ernest | Driver | Jandakot | Arthur Sinclair was 51 years of age when he fell from the cowcatcher of his engine and was fatally injured while assisting the train guard to execute a "fly" shunt at Jandakot. He died shortly after being admitted to Fremantle Hospital. Arthur lived with his wife, Minnie, at Fremantle and they had three children. Arthur was interred at the Fremantle Cemetery (PRESBYTERIAN/MON EE/0019). Minnie survived Arthur by 6 years and was interred in the same grave in 1931. | Open PDF |
| 1904-08-02 | SINCLAIR | Thomas | Night Watchman | Fremantle Workshops | Thomas Sinclair was 48 years of age when he was fatally injured by being struck by a train. The train that struck him was never located. A coronial enquiry determined that his death was an accident. Thomas lived at Cottesloe Beach and is interred at Fremantle Cemetery (Presbyterian/MON E/0377). | Open PDF |
| 1903-04-28 | SKELTON | Joseph | Shunter | Kalgoorlie Loco Depot | Joseph Skelton was 32 years of age when he was fatally injured in a shunting accident at the Kalgoorlie Loco Depot. A coronial inquest determined that he died accidentally. | Open PDF |
| 1915-05-26 | SLOSS | William Henry | Fuelman | West Perth | William Sloss was 50 years of age when he was fatally injured by being caught and crushed in the mechanical parts of a steam crane at West Perth. William lived at North Perth with his wife Louisa and their eight children between 1 and 16. He was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (PRESBYTERIAN/DA/0490). | Open PDF |
| 1898-06-14 | SMADDEN | Thomas | Carpenter | Fremantle Workshops | Thomas Smadden (Originally listed as Thomas Sneddon) was 45 years of age when he was fatally injured by being crushed between buffers at the Fremantle Workshops. Thomas died of severe internal injuries at Fremantle Hospital. Thomas lived in Fremantle but his wife and family were living in Sydney. | Open PDF |
| 1916-06-28 | SMALLWOOD | Francis "Frank" Edwin | Examiner | Fremantle | Frank Smallwood was 28 years of age when he was fatally injured during shunting operations at Fremantle Railway Yard in the early hours of June 28. Frank died at Fremantle Hospital later the same morning. He lived in Fremantle with his wife Olive and he was interred at the Fremantle Cemetery (ANGLICAN/MON AA/1494). | 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.