HOPKINSTOWN RAILWAY DISASTER 1878


On Saturday 19th October 1878, an accident occured on the Taff Valley Railway near Pontypridd when an empty passenger train was reversed out into a train full of passengers from a siding in a deep cutting due to an error between a signalman and a train driver. 13 passengers were killed and many more seriously injured.

Patrick Ratican came from Pontypridd but was injured and taken to Cardiff Infirmary. His occupation was Tinsman. He was buried in Cathays Cemetery on 23rd October 1878.

Source: Hopkinstown 1911 by David J Carpenter