On March 10, 1926, seven days into the General Strike, striking miners uncoupled a rail on the main line from London to Edinburgh. Their intention was to derail a coal train they felt was undermining the strike. Unfortunately, they derailed a passenger train – the Flying Scotsman!

Of the 281 passengers on board, only one person was slightly injured.

Eight Cramlington miners were sentenced to prison for their part in the derailing. The leader of the wreckers was Bill Muckle who was born in Westoe. The Judge who sentenced them was also from Westoe. The first part of the day school tells their story. Were they terrorists or workers defending their jobs and community?

Part two will focus on women’s involvement in two of the most significant strikes in 20th Century British history: the 1926 General Strike and the 1984/84 Miner’s Strike.

Programme for event:

• Welcome
• Talk – Introduction to the Cramlington Train Wreckers Film
• Film – 30-minute BBC Film. “The Cramlington Train Wreckers”. Originally shown in 1970 as part of the Yesterday’s Witness series, this incredible historical documentary features “volunteers” who manned the Flying Scotsman and the four surviving striking miners who derailed the train.
• Break for tea and coffee
• Talk – The role of women in the 1926 General Strike
• Talk – The role of women in the 1984/85 miner’s strike. Marking the 40th Anniversary of the start of the strike.

This event will include songs and recitations and Q&As.

Tickets, limited to 100, are only £5 per person and can be purchased via:

Cramlington Train Wreckers Day School at The Word Tickets, Sun 10 Mar 2024 at 11:00 | Eventbrite