Scoffin, Richard – Killer loco at victim’s funeral

Scoffin, Richard

(1870-1914)

Richard Scoffin, who lived at 124 Alexandra Road, was an inspector employed by the Great Northern Railway Company.

He was with the Company for more than more than more than 27 years, coming to Grantham from Leeds, as a signalman in 1900.

He was on duty at the nearest signal-cabin at the time of the railway disaster of 1906 when 15 people died when a runaway mail train plunged over the parapet on Old Wharf Road.

Following the disaster that Mr Scoffin was transferred from the signal box to the Divisional Superintendent’s staff, as assistant inspector, which post he held until his death of acute pneumonia.

But the crash had still bothered him for the rest of his life leading to bad dreams and anxieties.

Then by an amazing coincidence, as his  funeral cortege went  beneath Harlaxton Road railway bridge, the engine which had pulled that fatal train and had been rebuilt and renumbered, passed over.