1903: Today saw an extension to Peterborough's growing tram network when the service to Newark began, the trams travelling along the Eastfield Road. The driver - the motorman - had to stand in an open area to drive the tram and was exposed to all weathers. He worked a ten-hour shift, six days a week, at a rate of 5d an hour, which provided him with a weekly wage of 25s. (Peterborough Advertiser)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.
A family had a narrow escape when a GNER locomotive drove into their house in Peterborough. The engine was being driven by two men when they lost control of it. The men jumped out of the cab in time to see it hit a brake-van, which had been at the buffers. It then went through the buffers, off the rails, and ran into a house. It landed in the kitchen of the Cole family at around 10 am.
Earnest Cole, a railway controller, was unhurt. His wife, who was ill in bed, fell through the floor of the bedroom, but didn't suffer any serious injuries. Their 10-year-old daughter was pulled from the wreckage unharmed. His 75-year-old mother-in-law was trapped in the pantry and was suffering from severe shock when she was found. Amazingly no one was killed.
The Northampton Mercury differed in their account of the incident, claiming the daughter was 17 and elderly mother 74 and both emerged well from the incident, the daughter smiling and mother only suffering slight shock. They added that the incident 'occurred just under a bridge in the heart of the city, and... was visited by thousands during the day.'
Extraordinary Accident at Peterborough, Lichfield Mercury, Friday 18th August 1922, p. 7.
Brake Van In House, Northampton Mercury, Friday 18th August 1922, p.3.