John Axon

John Axon GC (4 December 1900 – 9 February 1957)[1] was an English train driver from Stockport (Edgeley Depot) who died while trying to stop a runaway freight train on a 1 in 58 gradient at Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire after a brake failure. The train consisted of an ex-LMS Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48188 hauling 33 wagons and a brake van.

This article is about the engine driver. For the actor, see John Axon (actor).
John Axon
Born(1900-12-04)4 December 1900
Stockport, Cheshire, England
Died9 February 1957(1957-02-09) (aged 56)
Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, England
Preserved LMS Stanier Class 8F locomotive of the sort involved in the accident

Accident

On the outward trip from Stockport to Buxton that day, Driver Axon had noticed a leak from the supply to the locomotive steam brake and had requested and received fitter's attention at the Buxton depot. On the return trip from Buxton to Stockport, the repair did not hold and the supply pipe broke away from the steam brake disabling the locomotive steam brake and whistle. This filled the locomotive cab with scalding steam and prevented Axon and the fireman, Ron Scanlon, from reaching the controls.

The inability to use the locomotive's whistle meant that the crew of the banking engine at the rear of Axon's train remained unaware of the problems at the front and kept pushing the train towards Dove Holes summit.

Axon told his Scanlon to jump off and attempt to apply wagon brakes. Due to the speed the train was travelling, Scanlon only managed to apply a few before the train reached the summit and began accelerating down the 1-in-58 gradient towards Chapel-en-le-Frith. As the crew of the banking engine reached the summit to let the train continue under its own power, they were alarmed to see the train accelerating away from them, and the guard frantically applying the brakes to his van.

George Cross and its ribbon bar

At the time of the locomotive failure, Axon could have jumped clear of the then slow-moving train. However, aware of the danger that his train posed to life further down the line, he stayed with the accelerating train despite the scalding steam on the footplate, trying to close the regulator in the hope that this would mitigate the effects of a collision; Axon managed to partly close the regulator and screw down the engine's tender brakes to negligible effect.

Warned by the Dove Holes signalman, the staff at Chapel-en-le-Frith were able to evacuate a two-car DMU, but had no time to warn the crew of a Rowsley-to-Stockport freight service. The runaway smashed into the rear of it, killing both Axon and the train's guard.

Recognition

Axon was posthumously awarded the George Cross on 7 May 1957.[2][3] His George Cross was donated to the National Railway Museum in 1978.[4] He was also awarded the Order of Industrial Heroism.[5][6]

He was the subject of a famous 1957 radio ballad (The Ballad of John Axon), the first of the series, written by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger and produced by Charles Parker. A CD released in June 2008, 'Primary Transmission' by the artist Broadcaster on Red Grape Records, included the song 'Johnny' which is based on samples from the Ballad of John Axon and set to new music.[7]

On 19 February 1981, a British Rail Class 86 electric locomotive number 86261 was named Driver John Axon, GC at a ceremony at Euston Station, London.

In February 2007, a DMU Class 150 train (150273) was named 'Driver John Axon, GC' at Buxton. This name has now passed onto a Class 156 DMU, 156460. A plaque commemorating the events was unveiled, to be mounted at Chapel-en-le Frith station. The plaque is now mounted on the station buildings at Chapel-en-le-Frith facing onto the southbound platform.

Family

His grandson, also named John Axon (1960 – 2008), was a television actor best known for his role as Nigel Harper in The Royal; he also played roles in other series such as Life on Mars, City Central and Peak Practice.[3]

See also

References
  1. Michael Ashcroft, George Cross Heroes, 2010
  2. "No. 41062". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 May 1957. p. 2723.
  3. Wylie, Ian (25 October 2008). "Royal star John Axon dies". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  4. Carter, Phillip. "Axon, John (1900–1957), railwayman". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  5. Bob Burrows, "The Ultimate Sacrifice: 11 February 1957", Infamous Cheshire (2006), p. 51-52.
  6. "LIST OF PERSONS AWARDED THE ORDER OF INDUSTRIAL HEROISM".
  7. "BBC - Radio 2 - BBC Radio Ballads - The Ballad of John Axon". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
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