Alexander Shanks - Railway Death 1890

[mark_shanks]

Alexander Shanks
Birth: 1829 in Carriden, West Lothian, Scotland
Death: 19 Sept 1890 Near Broomhouse, West Lothian, Scotland
Married to Margaret Williamson

I'm looking for any information on the death of my GG-Grandfather Alexander Shanks who was a railway surfaceman in 1890. In the register of deaths book for Kirkliston is says he was run over by a train at 9:40am on 19th Sept 1890 whilst working on the railway near Broomhouse.

The procurator fiscals paperwork I have says cause of death was "injuries sustained by having been run over by a railway train on the North British Railway at Priestinch Bridge on 19th September 1890."

I believe he's buried in Kirkliston Cemetery. Does anyone have a photograph of the headstone?

Would this have probably been reported in the Edinburgh newspapers at the time? Any idea where to look to see if there was any reports on the accident?

Thanks for any input!

Mark

[Canisp]

Hello Mark,

It is possible it may have been reported in the Linlithgow Gazette or the Courier (West Lothian). Old copies of these newspapers can be viewed at the West Lothian Local History Library in Blackburn. Here is a link -

http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/tourism/libservices/LocSpec/LocalHistoryLibrary

Cheers,
Davie

[mark_shanks]

Hi Davie,

Cheers for the information. I'll call the centre for more info at the beginning of the week before heading up there.

Thanks again!

Mark

[DiGi]

Hi

There would most probably be a Fatal Accident Enquiry which you could find out about at Register House.  Also, an accident at Kirkliston would probably be reported in the Edinburgh Evening News or Scotsman newspapers.  You can read these newspapers on microfiche at the main Edinburgh Library on George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.

Cheers

DiGi

[mark_shanks]

Cheers DiGi will look into it! Thanks.

[Joolzbrown]

Hi Mark, Just wondering if you ever found any further information on this accident? Alexander Shanks was my GGG grandfather.
Cheers,
Julie

[GrahamSimons]

Report in the Edinburgh Evening News via FindMyPast or British Newspaper Archive. He stepped out of the way to allow a goods train to pass and in doing so stepped in front of an express. "The body was frightfully mangled."

[Istrice]

Mark,

The following reference should take you to a photograph of the headstone in Kirkliston: https://billiongraves.com/grave/Alexander-Shanks/13687341.

I have also had a look at the rail accident site but there appears to be no report of this accident on record.  You may have better luck than I. (https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventlisting.php)

Istrice

[Rockford]

Hello

The brief article in the Edinburgh Evening News of 20th Sept 1890 says:

"Surfaceman killed by a Glasgow Express - Alexander Shanks, surfaceman, was run down and killed yesterday by the Glasgow express.  He had moved into the six-foot way to allow a goods train to pass, and stepped before the express and was killed on the spot.  The body was frightfully mangled."

Hope that helps.

Rockford