Abermule, a name since associated in the public memory
with the last and the worst catastrophe in Cambrian annals.

It was on a November morning in 1861 that a goods train leaving Newtown
for Welshpool, called at Abermule, where they picked up three wagons and
some water. But, unfortunately, there was time--or they thought there
was time--for the driver, fireman, and guard to adjourn to the adjacent
inn, where they took up something rather stronger than the engine's
refreshment. Time fled, as it is apt to do in such circumstances, and
when the staff rejoined the train, an effort appears to have been made to
gain lost minutes, with the result that the train ran off the line, and
driver, known to his comrades as "Hell-fire Jack," and fireman were
killed. An inquest was held before Dr. Slyman, coroner, one of the most
enthusiastic promoters of the Montgomeryshire lines, and the jury
solemnly found that "the accident was the result of furious driving," but
they exonerated from blame everyone but "the unfortunate driver."

[Picture: An Early Cambrian Coach with its Makers. In Coach: Edward
Morgan (3rd from right), Job Thomas, E. Shone. Back Row (left to right):
1, (Unidentified); 2, John Thomas; 3, E. Windsor; 4, R. Williams: 5, W.
Parry; 6, J. Richards (foreman); 7, S. Holland; 8, Rd. Davies; 9, Edward
Lewis (living); 10, J. Powell; 11, Lazarus Jones; 12, E. Price. Front
Row (left to right): 1 (Unidentified); 2, J. Astley; 3 and 4, Boys; 5,
Joe Ward; 6, Wm. Jones; 7, T. Morgan; 8, "Fat Charlie"; 9, R. Morgan; 10,
John Sanger (brother-in-law of Mr. George Lewis, General Manager); 11,
David Davies, Aberystwyth (living)]

But the "human factor" is not the only element of nature with which
railway management has to contend. Another, not less serious in its
potential consequences, was brought to mind in sinister fashion a few
years later, when, during the winter storms of 1868, the Severn and its
tributaries rose in flood with such alarming rapidity that the driver of
an early morning goods train from Machynlleth to Newtown found, as he ran
down the long decline from Talerddig past Carno, that the water was
washing over the footplate of the engine, and nearly put out the fire.
He naturally bethought him of the wooden bridge over the Severn at
Caersws, but, after, careful examination, it was safely crossed. On the
return journey, however, the bridge was being carefully approached once
more,