Rocket collision Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway

a replica of rocket appeared @ time of l&m s opening

as huskisson , duke of wellington exchanged greetings, of crowd saw rocket, hauling third of 7 trains on northern track, approaching in distance. shouted engine approaching, take care gentlemen people—including huskisson—standing on tracks.

the men gathered on track moved out of way of approaching rocket, either climbing onto embankment or getting carriages. unlike other carriages, edmondson had not equipped duke s carriage fixed steps. instead, movable set of steps @ of carriage, moved position allow travellers board , alight @ whichever part of carriage convenient. rocket approaching, there not time fetch movable steps. rocket 80 feet (24 m) away, holmes, huskisson , esterházy remained on tracks. edward littleton mp, passenger in duke s carriage, reached out esterházy , hauled him carriage safety.

joseph locke, driving rocket, saw there people on line ahead. rocket engineering prototype, , had not been equipped brakes. locke threw engine reverse gear, process took ten seconds engage. rocket continued approach, huskisson , holmes panicked. holmes clung side of duke s carriage, while huskisson made 2 efforts run across track safety, each time returning side of carriage.

the space between rails 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm), , carriages overhung outside rails 2 feet (610 mm). pressed against side of carriage, remaining gap enough huskisson , holmes escape without injury, huskisson misjudged distance. according edward littleton, duke of wellington said huskisson seem going on—you had better step in! . huskisson tried clamber carriage, inside failed reach him pull him in. holmes, still pressed against carriage, shouted god s sake, mr huskisson, firm , huskisson grabbed door of carriage. holmes still pressed against side of carriage, door, huskisson hanging on it, swung out directly path of rocket. rocket collided door , huskisson fell onto track in front of locomotive.

in words of harriet arbuthnot, in duke s carriage, [huskisson] caught it, thrown down & engine passed on leg & thigh, crushing in frightful way. impossible give idea of scene followed, of horror of present or of piercing shrieks of unfortunate wife, in car. said scarcely more than, s on me. bring me wife , let me die.