TODAY marks the 126th anniversary of one of the most tragic rail disasters in Shropshire history.

On June 11, 1897 the Welshampton railway disaster claimed the lives of 11 people and left 15 others seriously injured.

An excursion to Barmouth had been organised by the United Sunday Schools of Royton in Manchester who were among a group of 320 passengers on board a train of of 15 carriages, pulled by two locomotives.

The Cambrian line had suffered regular crashes and derailments ever since 1861 but the tragedy at Welshampton in the late hours of June 11th 1897 ranks among the worst.

The train left Barmouth at 6pm and all had been going according to schedule.

However at 10.20pm one of the engines and 13 of the coaches left the rails 154 yards east of Welshampton station.

Nine passengers were killed while two other passengers and a railway employee died later from injuries.

The initial investigation centred on the first carriage to leave the rails, a Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway third-class brake coach, the enquiry concluded though that the speed of the train was too high considering the state of the track.

The report concluded: 'The rails are good, but the road is so light, and the maintenance of it so unsatisfactory, that it is suitable only for comparatively light trains and a low rate of speed.'

Cambrian Railways disputed the findings and maintained that the L&Y vehicle was to blame.

A memorial on the front of the town hall in Royton, Greater Manchester names, those killed in the accident.

A second memorial, installed by local people, at the side of the A495 Ellesmere to Whitchurch road, near to the site of the accident, shows the Cambrian Railways coat of arms.

The railway line between Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch is now disused and, although some of the line is visible, the site of the accident itself has been ploughed out.

Welshampton Station building still exists and has been converted into a house. This second memorial stone is located just in front of its fence by the roadside.