I boarded my train to work this morning and noticed that it had been named after Driver John Axon. I had read his story of bravery, courage and self-sacrifice before, but I decided to look it up again. I thought it appropriate to write about it, as it is 55 years ago this month to John Axon selflessly gave his own life to protect the lives of others.
On 9th February 1957, Driver Axon bravely stayed at the footplate of his runaway locomotive - which was filled with scalding steam following a supply pipe failure which had also disabled the brakes – in an attempt to regain control of his train. Axon was able to warn a passenger train ahead but his train crashed into the rear of a slow-moving freight train and he was killed.
Driver Axon is a real hero and Northern Rail should be commended for commemorating the extraordinary bravery and selflessness that he showed in saving many lives that day.
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