"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant"
- Kevin Maguire, Associate Editor, Daily Mirror
"A must-see play for trade unionists and for anyone interested in the lives, struggles and history of working class people"
- Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and former TUC President (2023/24)
“Informative, vital, pivotal moments in the working class struggle - delivered with a splash of humour”
- Gary Wilkinson, Alikivi UK: North East Culture (500,000 hits)
"A remarkable true story. I laughed, cried and sang along. Solidarity!"
- Mond Cowie, founder member and guitarist of the Angelic Upstarts (and former shipyard worker)
Terrorists or workers defending their community and jobs?
The General Strike of 1926 was a rupture in society.
The infamous derailment happened on 10 May 1926, seven days into the nine-day UK General Strike, when striking miners uncoupled a rail on the mainline Edinburgh to London railway.
The intent was to derail a blackleg coal train that the Northumberland miners felt was undermining the strike. Unfortunately for the perpetrators, it was a passenger train, the carriages of which were part of the Flying Scotsman service being pulled by locomotive No.2565 Merry Hampton.
Despite 281 passengers aboard the train, the volunteer driver had been warned of trouble ahead and slowed down, meaning when the engine and five carriages were derailed, no one was killed.
The only injury was minor, to a man's foot. Most people were treated for shock and bruises and continued their journey from Newcastle.
Eight Cramlington miners were each sentenced to up to eight years for their involvement in the event. They were made an example of. The Cramlington Train Wreckers were eventually released early due to pressure from the trade union rank and file, politicians and the judiciary itself, who saw the original sentences as too harsh. They returned home, welcomed as heroes.
From exisiting literature, film and song*, the events in Cramlington are being rediscovered, and now the incredible story will be performed on stage almost 100 years later in November 2024.
*No Regrets, by Tom Patterson.
North by North-East is a new podcast that delves into the many quirks and facets of North East England, its history, and its people. This episode features a discussion with both Ed Waugh, the writer of The Cramlington Train Wreckers, and Russell Floyd, the play's director.
What does our audience think?
A fantastic response! A big thank you to Von Fox Promotions for the vox pop recordings.
