Three people were killed and twenty two injured when the Lancashire and Yorkshire railways express train from Leeds to Fkeetwood collided with a stationery stock Train near Smithy Bridge.

Three coaches were smashed and the engine went over an embankment and was embedded in the snow.The accident happened during a raging blizzard.The driver, James Moon, was among the four passengers who were killed.He as found near the engine with both of his legs broken and was taken to Rochdale Infirmary where he died later that day.

The stock train which was made up of horse boxes and empty carriages was standing near the platform when the Express train crashed into it.The guard had a remarkable escape, thrown out of his seat, he smashed a window and rolled down the embankment coming back to help with the rescue.

Many passengers were trapped in the wreckage.

Snow had fallen across the region that morning.In Manchester with heavy and melted snow had caused disruption on the streets. Further north the falls brought down the Telegraph wires linking Newcastle  with Scotland.

The four battalions of the Manchester regiments currently at Heaton Park would soon be moving to Grantham for further training it was announced.The 16th,17th,18th and 19th had been training now for around six months.Each battalion was over 1,100 strong and the joke going around the camp was that the war office had forgotten all about them.

The amount of fruit that was arriving in Manchester via the ship canal was on the increase due to much sea freight being diverted to Manchester because of the German blockade and because fruit which in ordinary times was going to Germany was now coming to the UK market instead.

St Patrick’s Day was being celebrated across the city,The Evening News reporting that almost everyone who could secure a bunch of Ireland’s symbolic plant was wearing one, although the consignment from Ireland had arrived late at Shudehill..The most popular was the Rosette variety.Manchester’s Irish community held their annual dinner at the Grand Hotel.

The battle of Neuve Chappelle was being reported from the Western Front and things were said to be going well for the Allies having reached a height to the North of Mesnil, while French forces were said to have gained ground around the area of Champagne.

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