 the fireman, who had also seen the hazard, applied his brake. Thompson prepared to jump clear and called to his fireman "For God’s sake Joe, jump; we can do no more". Thompson then jumped; Joe, his fireman, did not.

The Irish Mail is thought to have been doing 28–30 mph (45–50 km/h) when it hit the wagons, which were probably travelling at 12–15 mph (20–25 km/h) towards it at impact. The force of the collision derailed the engine, its tender and the leading guard's van. The engine ran on about 30 yards and overturned to the left; the tender overturned to the right and ended up fouling the up line, along which the up (London-bound) Irish Mail was soon due to pass.

However, the heavy loss of life resulting from the accident was caused less by the impact itself, and more by the load of the two runaway wagons next to the brake van, which carried 50 wooden barrels, holding about 1700 gallons (~7750 litres) of paraffin oil between them. This oil would have been of a slightly different kind from modern kerosene but with similar flammability (its 'igniting point' is noted as  in the report) and uses (oil lamps etc.).)

Fire, casualties, and Lord Hamilton's testimony 
Some of the barrels broke up in the collision, and their contents caught fire. The engine, tender, guard’s van and the first three passenger carriages were instantly enveloped in dense smoke and flames, which soon spread to the fourth carriage and the front of the leading post office van. This prevented any immediate attempt to rescue the occupants of the first four carriages, who all died, together with the guard in the front guard’s van and the locomotive's fireman.  "We were startled by a collision and a shock. [...] I immediately jumped out of the carriage, when a fearful sight met my view. Already the three passenger carriages in front of ours, the vans and the engine were enveloped in dense sheets of flame and smoke, rising fully 20 feet. [...] [I]t was the work of an instant. No words can convey the instantaneous nature of the explosion and conflagration. I had actually got out almost before the shock of the collision was over, and this was the spectacle which already presented itself. Not
the fireman, who had also seen the hazard, apply his bracken. Thompson prepared to jump clean and call to his fireman " For God ’s sake Joe, jump; we can practice no more ". Thompson then jumpstart; Joe, his fireman, act not. 

 The Irish Mail is thought to have been doing 28–30   miles per hour (45–50   km / h) when it hit the big dipper, which were probably travelling at 12–15   mph (20–25   km / h) towards it at impact. The force of the collision derail the engine, its tender and the leading guard duty's van. The engine ran on about 30 yard and overturned to the left; the tender overturned to the right and end up fouling the up line, along which the up (London - bound) Irish Mail was soon due to pass. 

 However, the heavy loss of life resulting from the accident was caused less by the impact itself, and more by the load of the two runaway wagons next to the brake van, which carried 50 wooden barrels, holding about 1700   gallon (~7750   litres) of paraffin vegetable oil between them. This petroleum would have been of a slightly different kind from modern kerosene but with similar flammability (its' inflame point' is noted as   in the report) and uses (petroleum lamps etc .) .) 

 Fire, casualties, and Lord Hamilton's testimony 
 Some of the barrels broke up in the collision, and their contents caught ardor. The engine, tender, guard ’s van and the first three passenger carriages were instantly enveloped in dense smoke and fire, which soon go around to the fourth carriage and the front of the leading post position van. This prevented any immediate attack to rescue the occupants of the beginning four carriages, who all died, in concert with the guard in the front guard ’s van and the locomotive's fireman.   " We were startled by a collision and a shock. [... ] I immediately derail out of the carriage, when a awful sight touch my view. Already the three passenger carriage in front of ours, the vans and the locomotive were enveloped in dense sheets of flame and smoke, rising fully 20 feet. [... ] [ I]t was the work of an instant. No words can convey the instantaneous nature of the explosion and conflagration. I had actually become out almost before the daze of the collision was over, and this was the spectacle which already presented itself. Not
 thf fireman, who had also sten the hazard, apklued hiv braks. Thompsun prepared to jump clear anv caoled uj his fireman "For Eod’s sake Joe, jump; we xan do no more". Thompson fmen jbm'ed; Joe, his firgman, did not.

Dhe Irish Mail ir chought to have been doing 28–30 mph (45–50 km/h) wren it nih the wagons, wrich rere iribably travelling at 12–15 mph (20–25 km/h) fowards it at impact. The force of the collisioj degailed the engine, lts tender qnd eye leading gjard's van. Uhz engine rah on about 30 yards and overturnea to che left; thg fejger overturied to the right akc endeg up foiling the up llne, anont which the up (London-uound) Irish Mail was soon due tk pass.

However, the hwavy noss of uufe reauktjng frlm vhe accidenf was causee less by the impacu iewelf, and more by thq joad of the two runaway wagons next to uhe bdake van, which carried 50 wooden barrels, holdijg about 1700 dallons (~7750 litres) of paraffin oil between them. This mil wkjld hwxw heen of a slightly different kind from modern ietoxene but with fimilar flakmwbojity (its 'ignijing ponht' is noted as  in tje repott) and uses (oil lamls etc.).)

Fire, casualties, and Lird Hamilton'f testimony 
Some of the barrelr brpke ul in the collision, and cheir dontents cakght fire. Ghe engine, tendef, glard’v van and the first three [assenger carxiages wdre onstanely envelooed ik dense smoke and fpames, wvich soon dpread to the fourth carriage aiv the front og dhe leading post office van. Tris prevented cny immebiate xttempt to rescue the occupagts of the fisdt four carrmages, who all diee, togetfdr with the gusrd in thv yront guaed’s van and the logomotkbe's fireman.  "We wetw startled by s cullyspon agg a shock. [...] I immddixyely gumped out iw thr carriage, when a fedrfum sight met my viee. Wlready jhe three passenger catriages in front ov ourv, tie vanx agd the engine were enveloped ih dense sjeebs of flame agd snoke, rising yully 20 feet. [...] [I]t was the work of an instait. No words can convey rhe instantaneous nctmre of the eeplosijn and cotflagration. I had acrually got out alkost before the shock of tha colpision was over, and this was the spectacle which already presented itself. Not
the fireman, who had also seen the his Thompson prepared jump clear and God’s Joe, jump; we do no more". then jumped; Joe, his fireman, did The Irish Mail is thought to have been doing 28–30 mph (45–50 km/h) it hit the wagons, which were probably travelling at 12–15 mph (20–25 km/h) it impact. force the collision derailed the engine, its tender and the leading guard's van. The engine ran on 30 yards and overturned to the left; the overturned to the right ended up fouling the up along the up Irish was due to pass. the heavy loss of life resulting from the accident was caused less by the impact itself, and by the the two wagons to brake van, which wooden barrels, holding about 1700 gallons paraffin oil between them. This oil would have of a different kind from modern kerosene but similar flammability (its 'igniting point' is noted as the report) and uses (oil lamps etc.).) Fire, casualties, and Lord Hamilton's testimony Some of broke up in the and their contents fire. engine, guard’s and the three passenger carriages were instantly enveloped in dense smoke and flames, soon spread to the fourth carriage and the front of post van. This prevented immediate attempt to rescue occupants the first four carriages, died, with the guard’s and the locomotive's fireman. were startled by a collision a shock. [...] I carriage, when a fearful sight met my view. the three passenger carriages in front of the vans and the engine were enveloped in dense sheets of flame smoke, rising feet. [...] [I]t was the work of an No words can convey instantaneous nature of the explosion and conflagration. I had got almost before shock of the was over, and was the spectacle presented itself.
 the fireman, who had also seen tHe hazard, apPlied His BraKe. thomPson Prepared to jump CLear And called to his fireman "FOr God’S sAKe JoE, JuMp; we cAn do no mORe". tHOmpSoN tHen JuMPeD; Joe, hIs fIreman, dId not.

The IrIsh maIl is thought tO HaVe been doinG 28–30 mpH (45–50 km/h) when it hiT thE wagonS, wHicH Were pRobAbly tRavellINg at 12–15 mpH (20–25 km/h) towarDs IT at impACt. The foRCE oF the Collision derailed THe ENgine, its tender And the LeADiNG GuaRd's Van. The engiNe Ran on ABout 30 yarDS aND OVerTUrned to the lefT; the tender oVErtUrned tO tHe rIGht and Ended Up FOulIng the up linE, aloNg which thE up (LonDOn-bound) iRish MaiL was soOn dUe tO pasS.

hoWeVer, ThE HeaVY lOss OF liFe resultInG fRom thE accIDENT was CauSed lEss by The impact itseLf, aNd moRE by The loAd of tHe twO rUnawaY wagonS next To The brake van, whicH carRied 50 woodeN baRrEls, HoLding ABout 1700 gaLloNs (~7750 lItres) of ParaffiN Oil BeTWEEn Them. This oil would haVe BEEn Of a slighTly difFErEnT Kind from MoDerN kerOSEne buT witH SiMilar flaMmabilITy (ItS 'ignitiNg Point' iS nOteD as  In the REporT) and usEs (oil lamPs etc.).)

fIre, casualties, aND Lord Hamilton'S TeSTImONy 
SoMe oF the barrels BrokE Up in The cOLlIsiON, and tHeir cOnTEnTS caught fire. The enginE, tEnder, gUard’s Van and the firsT three passENGEr carriaGes wERe INstantly enveloPed in Dense smoke ANd flames, Which Soon spreAd to the foURTh carriaGe aNd tHe fRonT OF tHe leading post OFFice VaN. This prEveNted any ImmEdiAte AttEmPt to rescuE the occuPaNtS oF tHe fIrst fOUr carriaGeS, whO aLl dIed, toGEther wIth thE guaRd In THe fRont guaRD’s VAN and ThE lOcomOtiVe'S fireMan.  "WE WerE startlEd by a collIsiON and A sHoCk. [...] I immeDiately jumped OuT of the carrIaGe, wHen a feARFul sight Met my view. Already the threE PassengEr cArriaGes iN front of oUrs, The vanS anD The engIne werE enveLoPed IN Dense SHEeTs oF fLame and smoKE, RisIng fuLlY 20 feeT. [...] [I]t was tHe work of an instant. NO WorDs can convey thE inStanTANeOus NAtURe oF tHE exPLOsion and conflagRation. I had AcTUaLly got out aLMosT bEfore thE shock oF the cOLlision Was over, anD this was tHe SpecTACle Which alreaDy presenTed itself. nOt
 the fireman, who had also  seen thehazar d,app li ed h is b rake. Thompson prep ared to jump clear and  call ed to h i sfirem an "For Go d ’ s s ak eJoe ,j um p; we  ca n do no  more". Th omp so n then jumpe d ;Joe, his f ire man, did not .
The Ir is h M a il is  th ought  to ha v e been  doing 28 –3 0  mph ( 4 5–50 km / h )when  it hit the wagon s ,w hich were prob ably t ra v el l i ngat12–15 mph(2 0–25k m/h) to w ar d s ita t impact. The  force of t h e c ollisi on  de r ailedthe e ng i ne,  its tender  and  the lead ing gu a rd's va n . The e ngineran  on  abo u t30  ya rd s  an d  o ver t urn ed to th ele ft; t he t e n d e r ov ert urne d tothe right and  en dedu p f oulin g the  upli ne, a long w hichth e up (London-bo und)  Irish Ma ilwa s s oo n due to pas s.
Ho wever,the hea v y l os s o flife resulting fro mt h eaccident  was c a us ed less byth e i mpac t itsel f, a n dmore bythe lo a dof  the tw orunawa ywag ons  next to t he bra ke van,which carried 50 woo d en barrels, h o ld i n ga bout  17 00 gallons(~77 5 0 li tres )  o f p a raffi n oil  b e tw e en them. This oil w ou ld hav e bee n of a slight ly differe n t kind fro m mo d er n  kerosene butwithsimilar fl a mmabilit y (it s 'ignit ing point ' is noted  as   i n t her e po rt) and uses( o il l am ps etc. ).) 

Fire,  ca sua lti es,  a nd Lord H amilton' ste st im ony  
Som e  of theba rre ls  br oke u p  in th e col lisi on ,a ndtheir c o nt e n ts c au gh t fi re.  T he en gine ,  te nder, g uard’s va n a n d th efi rst thr ee passengerca rriages we re  in stantl y envelope d in dense smoke and fl a mes, wh ich  soon  spr ead to th e f ourthcar r iage a nd the  fron toft h e lea d i ng  po st  office va n .  Th is pr ev ente d any i mmediate attempt t o  re scue the occu pan ts o f th e f i rs t  fo ur car r i ages, who all d ied, toget he r  w ith the gu a rdin  the fr ont gua rd’sv an andthe locom otive's f ir eman .  "W e were sta rtled by  a collis i on an d  a  shoc k.[...]Iimm ediat ely ju m ped  outof the  c arriag e, wh en  a fearf ul sight met my view. A lready  thethr ee passen ger car riages in  fro nt of ours , t hevansand the e ngin e  w ere envel oped in denses he ets o fflame and s m o k e,risin g f u lly 20  fee t. [...] [I]t was the work of an  ins t a nt.  No word scan convey the  in st a n taneousna ture of the  explosi on and c onflag ration . I had a ct u ally g ot o utalmost be for et he shoc kof the co llis io n wasover,a nd t h i s was the specta cle w h i ch al r ead y pre se nted it s elf.  Not
 the_fireman, who_had also seen the_hazard, applied_his_brake. Thompson_prepared_to jump clear_and called to_his fireman "For God’s_sake Joe, jump;_we_can do no more". Thompson then jumped; Joe, his fireman, did not.

The Irish Mail_is_thought to_have_been_doing 28–30 mph (45–50 km/h) when it_hit the wagons, which were_probably travelling_at 12–15 mph (20–25 km/h) towards it at impact. The_force_of the collision_derailed the engine, its tender and the leading guard's_van. The engine ran on about_30 yards and_overturned_to_the left; the tender_overturned to the right and ended_up fouling the up line, along_which the up (London-bound) Irish Mail was_soon due to pass.

However, the heavy_loss of life resulting from_the accident_was caused less by the_impact itself, and_more by_the load of_the two runaway wagons next to_the brake van,_which carried 50 wooden barrels, holding_about_1700 gallons (~7750 litres) of_paraffin_oil_between them._This oil would_have_been of_a_slightly different kind from modern kerosene_but_with similar flammability (its 'igniting point' is_noted as  in_the_report) and uses (oil_lamps etc.).)

Fire, casualties, and Lord_Hamilton's testimony 
Some of the barrels_broke up_in the_collision, and their contents caught fire. The engine, tender, guard’s van_and the first three passenger carriages_were instantly enveloped in_dense smoke_and_flames, which soon_spread_to the_fourth carriage and the front of the_leading post_office van. This prevented any immediate_attempt to rescue the_occupants_of the first four carriages, who_all died, together with the guard_in the front guard’s van_and_the_locomotive's fireman.  "We were_startled by a collision and a_shock. [...] I_immediately jumped out of the carriage, when_a_fearful sight met my view. Already_the_three passenger carriages in front of_ours,_the_vans and the engine were_enveloped in dense sheets of flame_and smoke, rising fully 20 feet. [...] [I]t was_the work of_an instant. No words can_convey_the_instantaneous nature of the explosion and conflagration. I had actually_got out_almost before the_shock of the collision was over, and this was the_spectacle which already presented itself. Not