Late on Wednesday 27th December 1892, sensational reports filtered through Blantyre that the 10.08pm locomotive train on the Hamilton to Glasgow line was a runaway!
Eye witnesses at Hamilton West and at Blantyre said the train did not stop at either station, and instead charged through at full speed, something not permitted even if there was no intention to stop. The stationmasters at each of the missed station alerted Newton Junction and the locomotive was intercepted there. Railway officials then sent the locomotive back to Hamilton to do the route again collecting the confused passengers and traffic at both Hamilton West and Blantyre, something which cause the service to run very late.
Passengers at Blantyre for 10.08pm arrived at 11.30am, a late hour to be making their way home.
So what happened? It turned out that the engine driver, relatively new in the job, and unfamiliar with Hamilton West and Blantyre had mis read the timetable and thought his next stop was Newton!
