John Axon
John Axon | |
---|---|
Born | (1900-12-04)4 December 1900 Stockport, Cheshire, England |
Died | 9 February 1957(1957-02-09) (aged 56) Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, England Cremated at Stockport Crematorium |
Occupation | Train driver |
John Axon GC (4 December 1900 – 9 February 1957)[1] was an English train driver from Stockport (Edgeley Depot) who died while trying to stop a runaway freight train on a 1 in 58 gradient at Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire after a brake failure. The train consisted of an ex-LMS Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48188 hauling 33 wagons and a brake van.
Life
John Axon was born on 4 December 1900 in Stockport, Cheshire. On leaving school he became an apprentice painter and decorator. In 1919 he joined the London and North Western Railway as a cleaner, later becoming a fireman. From 1921 he was an engine driver, serving with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923, and British Railways after 1948.[2]
Accident
On the outward trip from Stockport to Buxton on 9 February 1957, Driver Axon had noticed a leak from the supply to the locomotive steam brake and had requested and received fitter's attention at the Buxton depot. On the return trip from Buxton to Stockport, the repair did not hold and the brake pipe fractured, disabling the locomotive steam brake and filling the cab with scalding steam, making it very difficult and painful for Axon and the fireman, Ron Scanlon, to reach the controls. Despite this, Axon and Scanlon managed to partly close the regulator and screw down the engine's tender brakes to negligible effect. The inability to use the locomotive's whistle meant that the crew of the banking engine at the rear of Axon's train remained unaware of the problems at the front and kept pushing the train towards Dove Holes summit.[3][4][5]
Axon told Scanlon to jump off and attempt to apply the wagon brakes of the loose-coupled train. Due to the speed the train was travelling, Scanlon only managed to apply a few before the train reached the summit and began accelerating down the 1-in-58 gradient towards Chapel-en-le-Frith. As the crew of the banking engine reached the summit to let the train continue under its own power, they were alarmed to see the train accelerating away from them, and the guard frantically applying the brakes to his van.[5][6]
At the time of the locomotive failure, Axon could have jumped clear of the then slow-moving train. However, aware of the danger that his train posed to life further down the line, he stayed at his post despite the scalding steam on the footplate.
Axon waved a warning to the signalman at Dove Holes, who opted to reverse the loop points despite the fact that the down main was still occupied by the Rowsley goods train. Knowing that the runaway train would derail on the trap siding, hitting Dove Holes signal box and station in the process, the signalman had the hope that Axon could regain control of his engine on the main line.[6] He immediately telephoned to the Chapel-en-le-Frith signalman, who was in the process of clearing the Rowsley-to-Stockport freight service. He ordered the passengers of a stationary DMU to be moved to safety, but had no time to warn the crew of the passing goods to accelerate.[3] The runaway smashed into the rear of it, killing John Axon and John Creamer, the other freight train's guard.[7] The signalman barely escaped as the 8F's tender sideswiped his box, destroying it.
Recognition
Axon was posthumously awarded the George Cross on 7 May 1957,[4][8][9] which was donated to the National Railway Museum in York in 1978.[2] He was also awarded the Order of Industrial Heroism by the Daily Herald.[10][11]
He was the subject of a 1957 radio ballad (The Ballad of John Axon), the first of the series, written by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger and produced by Charles Parker. A CD released in June 2008, 'Primary Transmission' by the artist Broadcaster on Red Grape Records, included the song 'Johnny' which is based on samples from the Ballad of John Axon and set to new music.[3] On 19 February 1981, a British Rail Class 86 electric locomotive number 86261 was named Driver John Axon, GC at a ceremony at Euston Station, London.[2]
In February 2007, a DMU Class 150 train (150273) was named 'Driver John Axon, GC' at Buxton.[2] This name has now passed onto a Class 156 DMU, 156460. A plaque commemorating the events was unveiled, to be mounted at Chapel-en-le Frith station. The plaque is now mounted on the station buildings at Chapel-en-le-Frith facing onto the southbound platform.
Family
On 17 September 1930 he married Gladys Richardson at St Matthew's Church, Stretford. They lived in Edgeley, Stockport and had two sons.[2] His grandson, also named John Axon (1960 – 2008), was a television actor best known for his role as Nigel Harper in The Royal; he also played roles in series such as Life on Mars, City Central and Peak Practice.[9]
See also
- Benjamin Gimbert
- Casey Jones
- Norman Tunna
- Wallace Oakes
- André Tanguy
- Jesús García
- Lists of rail accidents
References
- ^ Michael Ashcroft, George Cross Heroes, 2010
- ^ a b c d e Carter, Philip (2010). "Axon, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "BBC - Radio 2 - BBC Radio Ballads - The Ballad of John Axon". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ a b "The Ballad of John Axon by Ewan MacCol". Songfacts. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ a b "John Axon (1900-1957)". Find A Grave. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ a b Keenor, Gary. "Report on the Collision which occurred on 9th February 1957 at Chapel-en-le Frith (South)". Railways Archive. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Hewitt, Sam. "Remembering hero driver John Axon". Heritage Railway. Mortons Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "No. 41062". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 May 1957. p. 2723.
- ^ a b Wylie, Ian (25 October 2008). "Royal star John Axon dies". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ Bob Burrows, "The Ultimate Sacrifice: 11 February 1957", Infamous Cheshire (2006), p. 51-52.
- ^ "List of persons awarded the Order of Industrial Heroism".
External links
- GC citation in the London Gazette of 3 May 1957
- GC Awards to Railwaymen
- Official report on the collision
- The Ballad of John Axon, BBC Radio
- Article on the ballad
- v
- t
- e
- Slough (Jun 1900)
- Glasgow St Enoch (Jul 1903)
- Gomshall (Feb 1904)
- Hall Road (Jul 1905) ‡
- Witham (Sep 1905)
- Charing Cross (Dec 1905)
- Salisbury (Jul 1906) ‡
- Grantham (Sep 1906)
- Elliot Junction (Dec 1906) ‡
- Newport (Sep 1907)
- Birmingham (Oct 1907)
- Dore (Oct 1907)
- Shrewsbury (Oct 1907)
- Bournemouth (May 1908)
- Tonbridge (Mar 1909)
- Braunton Road (Jan 1910)
- Coulsdon North (Jan 1910)
- Hawes Junction (Dec 1910)
- Pontypridd (Jan 1911)
- Ditton Junction (Sep 1912)
- Chumhill (Feb 1913)
- Ais Gill (Sep 1913)
- Burntisland (Apr 1914)
- Carrbridge (Jun 1914)
- Ilford (Jan 1915)
- Quintinshill (May 1915) ‡ §
- Weedon (Aug 1915)
- St Bedes Junction (Dec 1915)
- Penistone (Feb 1916)
- Ratho (Jan 1917)
- Bere Ferrers (Sep 1917)
- Little Salkeld (Jan 1918)
- Paddock Wood (May 1919)
- Littlehampton (Aug 1920)
- Abermule (Jan 1921)
- Birmingham New Street (Nov 1921)
- Birkenhead Park (Dec 1922)
- Retford (Feb 1923)
- Lytham (Nov 1924)
- Parkgate & Rawmarsh (Nov 1926)
- Hull Paragon (Feb 1927)
- Penistone (Feb 1927)
- Sevenoaks (Aug 1927)
- Darlington (Jun 1928) ‡
- London Bridge (Jul 1928)
- Glasgow Queen Street (Oct 1928)
- Charfield (Oct 1928)
- Combe Down Tunnel (Nov 1929)
- Lawrence Hill (Jan 1930)
- Leighton Buzzard (Mar 1931)
- Raynes Park (May 1933)
- Winwick (Sep 1934)
- Welwyn Garden City (Jun 1935)
- Battersea Park (Apr 1937)
- Castlecary (Dec 1937) ‡
- Charing Cross (Mar 1938)
- Charing Cross (May 1938)
- Bounds Green (Oct 1940)
- Balham (Oct 1940) ‡
- Norton Fitzwarren (Nov 1940) ‡
- Bank (Jan 1941) ‡
- Eccles (Dec 1941) ‡
- Bethnal Green (Mar 1943) ‡
- Catterick Bridge (Feb 1944)
- Ilford (Jan 1944)
- Soham (Jun 1944)
- Ballymacarrett (Jan 1945) ‡
- King's Cross (Feb 1945)
- Bourne End (Sep 1945) ‡
- Lichfield (Jan 1946) ‡
- Potters Bar (Feb 1946)
- Grayrigg (May 1947)
- Polesworth (July 1947)
- Doncaster (Aug 1947)
- South Croydon (Oct 1947) ‡
- Goswick (Oct 1947) ‡
- Manchester Victoria (Dec 1947)
- Winsford (Apr 1948) ‡
- Stockport Viaduct (Nov 1948)
- Penmanshiel Tunnel (Jun 1949)
- Penmaenmawr (Aug 1950)
- Doncaster (Mar 1951)
- Huntingdon (Jul 1951)
- Newcastle (Aug 1951)
- Weedon (Sep 1951)
- Harrow & Wealdstone (Oct 1952) ‡
- Stratford (Apr 1953)
- Irk Valley Junction (Aug 1953)
- Watford Junction (Feb 1954)
- Sutton Coldfield (Jan 1955)
- Milton (Nov 1955)
- Barnes (Dec 1955)
- Luton (Dec 1955)
- Welwyn Garden City (Jan 1957)
- Chapel-en-le-Frith (Feb 1957)
- Lewisham (Dec 1957) ‡
- Dagenham East (Jan 1958)
- Eastbourne (Aug 1958)
- Settle (Jan 1960)
- Severn Railway Bridge (Oct 1960)
- Royton (Feb 1961)
- Baschurch (Feb 1961)
- Singleton Bank (Jul 1961)
- Lincoln (Jun 1962)
- Coppenhall Junction (Dec 1962)
- Knowle & Dorridge (Aug 1963)
- Cheadle Hulme (May 1964)
- Coton Hill (Jan 1965)
- Winsford (Jun 1965)
- Stechford (Feb 1967)
- Connington South (Mar 1967)
- Thirsk (Jul 1967)
- Hither Green (Nov 1967) ‡
- Hixon (Jan 1968)
- Castlecary (Sep 1968)
- Marden (Jan 1969)
- Morpeth (May 1969)
- Audenshaw Junction (May 1970)
- Sheerness-on-Sea (Feb 1971)
- Chester General (May 1972)
- Eltham Well Hall (Jun 1972)
- King's Cross & Euston (Sep 1973)
- Ealing (Dec 1973)
- Watford Junction (Jan 1975)
- Moorgate (Feb 1975) ‡
- Nuneaton (Jun 1975)
- Green Park (Oct 1975)
- West Ham (Mar 1976)
- Taunton (Jul 1978)
- Paisley Gilmour Street (Apr 1979)
- Invergowrie (Oct 1979)
- Dunmurry (Jan 1980)
- Bushey (Feb 1980)
- Bushey (Apr 1980)
- Holborn (Jul 1980)
- Ulleskelf (Dec 1981)
- Seer Green (Dec 1981)
- Wrawby Junction (Dec 1983)
- Morpeth (Jun 1984)
- Polmont (Jul 1984)
- Wembley Central (Oct 1984)
- Oxford Circus (Nov 1984)
- Eccles (Dec 1984)
- Summit Tunnel (Dec 1984)
- Lockington (Jul 1986)
- Colwich (Sep 1986)
- Glanrhyd Bridge (Oct 1987)
- King's Cross (Nov 1987) ‡
- Clapham Junction (Dec 1988) ‡
- Purley (Mar 1989)
- Glasgow Bellgrove (Mar 1989)
- West Ealing (Aug 1989)
- Stafford (Aug 1990)
- Cannon Street (Jan 1991)
- Victoria & Paddington (Feb 1991)
- Newton (Jul 1991)
- Severn Tunnel (Dec 1991)
- London Bridge (Feb 1992)
- Morpeth (Nov 1992)
- Maidstone East (Sep 1993)
- Greenock (Jun 1994)
- Morpeth (Jun 1994)
- Cowden (Oct 1994)
- Ais Gill (Jan 1995)
- Largs (Jul 1995)
- Stafford (Mar 1996)
- Watford (Aug 1996)
- Channel Tunnel (Nov 1996)
- Bexley (Feb 1997)
- Southall (Sep 1997)
- Spa Road Junction (Jan 1999)
- Winsford (Jun 1999)
- Ladbroke Grove (Oct 1999) ‡
§ indicates the deadliest railway accident in British history
1815–1899 2000–present