THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Coroner pays tribute to policeman killed on railway line at Windsor

The News Letter reported that the Belfast Coroner (Dr James Graham) had held an inquest in the Royal Victoria Hospital the previous day into the “touching” death of Acting-Sergeant Brian Taylor, of the Royal Irish Constabulary who had been killed on the Great Northern Railway line near Adelaide and Windsor.

The fireman on the train that hit the police officer, Mr Henry Bell of St Alban’s Gardens in Belfast, told the inquest that as the 7.20am express from Belfast passed through Windsor he had seen a man walking on the line.

He had sounded the whistle and the man stepped into the six feet gap between the set of rails.

Mr Henry then observed a goods train on the other line “going out” at a speed of about 10 miles an hour.

The man then stepped back but it was too late and the goods train struck him on the back and knocked him towards the express train.

He was then hit by the footboard of the carriage next to the engine and fell underneath the footboard.

The coroner said that it was one of the saddest inquests that he had ever held.

He said that Acting-Sergeant Taylor had been one of the most intelligent men in the police force that he had ever met.

said that Taylor had been a man of “extraordinary intellectual power” and had always been very attentive to his duties.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

They also extended their sympathies to the family of Acting-Sergeant Taylor and earnestly put forward a number of recommendations.

Mr Wellington Young, who represented the Great Northern Railway Company, said that he would bring the jury recommendations under the notice of the railway company.