A MAJOR train crash in Helmshore, in September, 1860, killed 10 people and injured 77 more.

Bygones recently told the story of a steam locomotive's whistle being heard on occasions, coming from the direction of the old track, even though the line closed in 1966.

It was one tale in a new book titled 'True Stories of Local Ghosts' written by historian Chris Aspin.

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Today, however, we take a more detailed look at the crash which took place more than 150 years ago.

It happened on the line between Snig Hole and the Ogden Viaduct, close to Helmshore station, after carriages broke away from one train and collided with another.

On that day, about 3,000 people had set off from East Lancashire on three excursion trains to visit the attractions at Belle Vue Gardens.

The second of these, carrying around 1,000 passengers in 31 carriages, had stopped at Helmshore Station, but when the guard released the brakes, there was a jerk and 16 carriages broke away and started sliding down the line towards Ramsbottom.

Mr Shaw, the superintendent, saw what had happened and unhooked the engine to go down the other line to warn the third train which was approaching, but was too late.

A Board of Trade inquiry the following month heard that: "The collision between the descending carriages and the ascending No 3 train took place at 654 yards from Helmshore.

"At that part the line is in deep cutting, and there is a sharp curve, so that the view in front of the third train would be little more than 100 yards and the driver says he only had time to shut off his steam, sound the whistle for the brakes and reverse his engine.

"The inspector was the first person to see the side lights of the descending train and applied the tender brake, before the shock took place.

"The driver says that he was running about 13 or 14 miles an hour when he first saw the carriages, and thought they might be 30 yards off.

"The speed at which the descending carriages travelled is uncertain. It was given in evidence at the coroner's inquest, that when the carriages first began to run backwards some of the passengers got out, while others remained in it.

"It was also stated that a man named Ashworth walked on the tops of the carriages until he reached one with a brake, which he said he put on, but the general testimony is that speed of the descending carriages gradually increased until the collision occurred."