A heritage Royal Mail carriage in the National Rail Museum at York - Date/Photographer unknown.

26 December 1864

Accident on South Devon Railway

The mail train from London, due at Plymouth at 5:25 this morning, while running through the Kingsbridge Road Station, at six o'clock, came in collision with a goods train from Plymouth, shunted on to an adjoining siding.
 
The tail of the goods train projected on to the down line, and was struck by the front second class carriage of the mail train.
 
The ends of two compartments of the carriage were torn off and two of the goods trucks were damaged.
 
The passengers escaped with a few contusions, excepting one gentleman, who was thrown out of a damaged compartment, but it is hoped that he is not seriously injured.
 
The mail train was two hours late, in consequence of Christmas business.
 
The accident blocked up the line for four hours more, and the mails were not delivered till the afternoon.