DVD of ‘Abergele Railway Disaster: The Fate of the Irish Mail’

DVD copy of the film titled ‘Abergele Railway Disaster: The Fate of the Irish Mail’ made by Tony Griffiths in 2014. Film mostly in English, also includes parts in Welsh language (audio as well as stills of Welsh written newspaper). Duration: 42 minutes 38 seconds

The film tells the story of the disaster on the 20th August 1868 at Abergele in Wales: the journey of the Irish Mail on its way to Holyhead, the crash against wagons on paraffins oils that got loose due to carelessness of shunting between Llanddulas and Abergele, the train derailed, and the locomotive and front carriages burst in flames, a disaster which made 33 victims. The film also looks at the days and the weeks following the disaster, the funeral and the inquiry to identify all the victims and certify the cause of death.

Tony Griffiths was inspired on starting his own research about the disaster after reading ‘Death by Chance’ by Robert Hume. For his research, he visited county archives as well as the National Railway Museum, looking at newspaper cuttings, report of the accident. He was especially inspired by the painting of the accident by Edwin Frederick Holt in the NRM collection which is used in the film (1954-213 “The accident to the Irish Mail Train”)

To tell the story of the accident uncovered by his research, he decided to make a film with the help of his wife, Barbara. The film is auto-produced, completed in 2014, it is the first film made and edited by Tony Griffiths.

Tony and Barbara wrote a script for 4 witnesses recounting the event: the driver, Arthur Thompson (interpreted by Tony Griffiths); a passenger, the Marquis of Hamilton; two women, Mrs Dicken (interpreted by Barbara Griffiths) and Sarah Haughton, who witnessed the accident from the lineside. They filmed the characters relqting their stories using green screens and adding sound and visual special effects, using archive documents, drawings, paintings, still images as background.

Using further still images they related the inquiry investigating into the accident. They shot a few scenes with volunteers to re-enact the funeral procession and the address by the minister in St Michael’s church. This is followed by the recounting of the verdict of the inquiry and the ‘fate of the brakesmen’, told with the use of archive material and photographs.

The film ends with a ballad written and sung by Barbara Griffiths, dedicated to the victim of the disaster.

The film features many archive documents, newspaper cuttings and drawings. Some still images used were also original photographs and sketches made for the film by Huw V. Jones.