Thirsk Rail Crash (1892) - Aftermath

Aftermath

Holmes was charged with manslaughter and found guilty, but was given an absolute discharge - a decision strongly supported by the jury and by public opinion. The railway company was criticised for its cavalier treatment of Holmes, and there had been contributory negligence; by the Otterington signalman who knew of Holmes's condition and took no action when there was silence from his signal box for nearly a quarter of an hour, and by the crew of the goods train who remained halted outside Holmes's signal box for several minutes without sending a crewman to the signal box in accordance with Rule 55 to ensure that their train was properly protected by the signals and block instruments.