Accidents

Accidents, sometimes fatal, were an occurrence on the line. High hedgerows, especially on the rural sections, obscured the tram from view. This was particularly dangerous when the trams were running silently downhill conserving power. Compared to the normal traffic of the period, the trams were faster and their impetus was too great to allow them to stop quickly.

The Deadman's Inn, Old Lucan Road

Picture of the Deadman'a Inn public house. The inn was so named because inquests into deaths on the tramway were held here.

taken by Kieran Swords

The Deadman's Inn, Old Lucan Road
taken by Kieran Swords

The Deadman's Inn, Old Lucan Road

Picture of the Deadman'a Inn public house. The inn was so named because inquests into deaths on the tramway were held here.

taken by Kieran Swords

Enlarge image

Within a year of the opening of the Lucan line the first fatal accident occurred near the Park Gates at Chapelizod. On the 11th August 1883 a Patrick Meade was badly injured by tram wheels passing over his legs. He died later in hospital.

The engine driver, Thomas Barber and Michael Ward, the conductor were subsequently charged with 'the careless management of a steam tramway'. However an inquest heard that the deceased had been attempting to step from one car to another while the tram was in motion. There was a printed notice warning passengers against attempting to leave a moving tram. The inquest therefore found both driver and conductor to be blameless.

On the Blessington line the first fatality was a Mrs. Margaret Jones who was killed near Templeogue. Many other accidents followed with white crosses erected along the line in commemoration. This led to one local wag stating that while he did not know where the largest graveyard in Ireland was "Surely the Blessington Tramway was the longest". At least two of the victims are buried in St. Maelruain's graveyard and an Annie Young is buried at Esker.

Inquests were usually held in the nearest public house to the accident scene; in some cases the bodies were also held there. Which explains why the public house at Palmerstown is called 'The Deadman's and that at Templeogue 'The Morgue'.