'In other words, the passengers had time to brace themselves.'

'Exactly.'

'I must speak to the Reverend Follis myself.'

'He's an interesting character.'

'I assume that the driver and fireman of both locomotives died in the crash,' said Colbeck, sadly.

'Those on the footplate of the ballast train were killed outright. The driver of the express must also be dead because he's buried beneath his engine. Until a crane arrives, we can't dig him out.'

'What about his fireman?'

'John Heddle was more fortunate,' said Ridgeon. 'He jumped from the footplate before the collision took place. He sustained a nasty head injury during the fall and was still very dazed when I spoke to him, but at least he survived and will be able to give us confirmation.'

'Confirmation?' echoed Colbeck.

'Yes – of what actually happened. The general feeling among the passengers is that the express went too fast around a bend and jumped off the track. In short, the driver was at fault.'

'That's a rather hasty verdict to bring in, Captain Ridgeon. It's very unfair to blame the driver before all the evidence has been gathered, especially as he's not alive to defend himself.'

'I'm not sure that he has a defence.'

'There are recommended speeds for every stretch of the track.'

'Everyone I've spoken to says the same thing,' argued Ridgeon. 'The speed was excessive. They were there, Inspector. These people were in the Brighton Express at the time.'

'That's precisely the reason I'd doubt their word,' said Colbeck. 'Oh, I'm sure they gave an honest opinion and I'm not criticising them in any way. But all the passengers have been through a terrible experience. They'll be in a state of shock. You have to allow for a degree of exaggeration.'