The Harrow train accident 1838 occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday 7 August 1838. Thomas Port, a railway guard, fell from a train on the London and Birmingham Railway near to Harrow, Middlesex, England. He was dragged under the carriages and had both legs partially severed. Despite attempts to save his life, he died later that day from severe blood loss. Historical background The first part of the London to Birmingham Railway opened between Euston Station and Hemel Hempstead on 20 July 1837, and then on to Bletchley in time for Queen Victoria's coronation on 28 June 1838. The whole railway was officially fully opened on 17 September 1838. Description of the accident Thomas Port was employed as a guard by the London and Birmingham Railway. At that time train operation was still largely based upon the standards of British stagecoach practice and Port's normal travelling location aboard the train was in an outside seat at roof level. It was part of his duty to undertake ticket checks to make sure second class passengers were not sitting in first class carriages. This task required that once the train was underway he would climb down to move along the step boards on the outside of the carriages so he could check the tickets through the door windows. On the day of his death, 7 August 1838, the train had left Euston Station at 5pm. About 10 miles (16 km) from Euston and miles (2 km) from Harrow the train was travelling at full speed, about 30 mph (50 km/h). As Port attempted to step from one carriage to the next, he slipped and fell under the train. His legs were run over, crushing and partially severing them. One of the other guards saw the injured Port lying on the tracks in great pain, and indicated to the driver to stop the train immediately. Emergency first aid was given by two doctors who were travelling on the train and then Port was put back aboard and taken to Harrow. Here the doctors fully amputated both his legs in an attempt to cauterise the bleeding, but Port died from a severe loss of blood within 3 hours of the accident. Thomas Port "left a father, a mother, several brothers and sisters, and a wife and two children to lament his loss." Coroner's inquisition A "coroner's inquisition" was held the following Saturday. It was