After several years of research, East Yorkshire author Richard M. Jones is set to release a book documenting a historic rail disaster in Hull. Entitled Paragon ’27 – The Hull Rail Disaster, it recounts the events of February 14, 1927, when a train full of children and commuters from Withernsea collided head-on with an outbound train to Scarborough near the site of today’s Hull Royal Infirmary. The collision, caused by a signalling mistake, resulted in eight deaths at the scene and a further four fatalities in the following days. Several of those involved, including one of the drivers, were from Bridlington.

Richard, who has published 28 books to date, said: “For many years there had been a memorial behind Hull Royal overlooking the crash site but this was removed due to construction of the helipad for the air ambulance. It was during a discussion with a train driver friend of mine that he mentioned that I had put a memorial up and written a book about Burton Agnes and the Lockington rail crashes, so why not get the last one documented properly?” This conversation led him to gather detailed information and secure support for a new memorial, which was unveiled on the 98th anniversary of the disaster by Richard Kitching, grandson of one of the victims and son of a child survivor.

The book, collated by Juliette Jones Editorial Services, will be available in paperback, hardback, and Kindle from November 3. Richard said: “This has been a fascinating journey into a slice of Hull and railway history that has never before had the story properly told. I am highlighting the heroes of Hull who broke the wall nearby in order to evacuate casualties and those who stopped at nothing to extract injured survivors from the wreckage of the train carriage.”

Reflecting on the process of writing and publishing, Richard added: “I am grateful for their support and help during the last few years and would like to say a personal thank you, not only for myself but on behalf of the people who lost somebody in this disaster that has led to the story being told and the memorial being put up."

You can pre-order the book by clicking here.

Image: Richard M. Jones