The Bullhouse Bridge Railway Disaster by Dave Cherry and John Irwin

The Barnsley social historian and John Irwin presents this little known story of the tragedy of the 1884 railway crash when 24 people were killed on the outskirts of Barnsley in South Yorkshire. Penistone was the worst accident black spot in the country and it was the fifth worst railway accident at the time. Using drone, archive film and photographs it tells how the Manchester to London and Grimsby train was derailed on the 22 foot embankment. Filming in the beautiful Bullhouse chapel which was near to the accident and with the help of friends Dave explains the cause of the crash and the aftermath when people descended on the scene for souvenirs. He then tells of the Victorian sensational tabloid press and the hypocritical inquiry which masked the real cause of the crash. Special thanks to Mark Greenwood from Sheffield University for his intensive research and Matthew Nicholson for his permission to use the Bullhouse chapel. © Copyright Dave Cherry 2023