The Princetown Train Snowed In During the March 1891 Blizzard

This photograph records the fateful journey of the 6.34pm Princetown Train on March 9th 1891. Burnard tell us that the train departed with 6 passengers on the evening of the 9th March. As the train was nearing Horsford Farm, it became stuck in a snow drift caused by a massive blizzard. The 6 passengers were left stranded until help could get through, some 3 days later, on the morning of the 11th March. The train itself was not freed from snow until 19th! This photograph shows the state of the train on the 14th March. Charlie, Burnard's son, is pictured sitting on top of the engine. In the West Country this was arguably the worst blizzard of the 19th century - 220 people died, mostly at sea where 65 vessels were lost in the English and Bristol channels. This was not the only train to be stranded in snow drifts during March 1891. In Devon 14 trains became stranded and about 6,000 sheep perished.