reported that "the unfortunate deceased started with the five o-clock train on Tuesday last from the station at Euston grove, and having arrived within a mile and a quarter of Harrow, as was the usual custom, he dismounted from his seat for the purpose of collecting from the passengers what is termed the 'excess fares.' ... In the performance of this duty the deceased was engaged on Tuesday, which compelled him to pass from one carriage to the other by the steps, and when in the act of placing his foot on one of them, at the time the train was proceeding at upwards of thirty miles an hour, his foot slipped between the wheels, which as they successivley passed over, dragged his legs in, crushing them inch by inch up to one of his knees and above the other." The jury felt that it was dangerous to require a guard to perform such a duty while the train was travelling at full speed, but returned a verdict of Accidental Death. Gravestone Thomas Port is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Church, Harrow on the Hill. His gravestone has the following inscription: TO THE MEMORY OF THOMAS PORT SON OF JOHN PORT OF BURTON UPON TRENT IN THE COUNTY OF STAFFORD, HAT MANUFACTURER, WHO NEAR THIS TOWN HAD BOTH HIS LEGS SEVERED FROM HIS BODY BY THE RAILWAY TRAIN. WITH THE GREATEST FORTITUDE HE BORE A SECOND AMPUTATION BY THE SURGEONS, AND DIED FROM LOSS OF BLOOD. AUGUST 7TH 1838 AGED 33 YEARS. Bright rose the morn and vig'rous' rose poor Port. Gay on the Train he used his wonted sport: Ere noon arrived his mangled form they bore, With pain distorted and o'erwhelmed with gore: When evening came to close the fatal day, A mutilated corpse the sufferer lay. Notes References Transport in the London Borough of Harrow History of the London Borough of Harrow Railway accidents in 1838 Railway accidents and incidents in London 19th century in Middlesex Accidents and incidents involving London and Birmingham Railway August 1838 events Disasters in Middlesex 1838 disasters in the United Kingdom