
Great Northern Railway
1848 - 1923The Great Northern Railway Police were established in 1848 and became part of London and North West Railway Police in 1923. In 1890, they were described by the Islington Gazette as "a fine body of men, whose physique is, if anything, superior to the City [of London] Police".
Thomas Williams was Superintendent of the Great Northern Railway Police between at least 1851 and 1853. Richard Williams was Inspector (1856) and later Superintendent between at least 1860 and 1884. Superintendent Bacton was chief in 1860.
Succeeding Superintent Richard Williams was Superintendent Richard Parish. Mr. Parish was Superintendent of the Great Northern Railway Police for sixteen years prior to his death on 14 November 1901. Prior to that he was a member of the City of London Police. Since his appointment, he had done wonders in increasing the physique and discipline of the men under him.
In 1901, the Superintendent's position, rendered vacant by the death of Superintendent Parish, raised interest in police officers from all parts of the country to apply for the post of chief of the Great Northern Railway Police. The position had a salary of £600 a year besides certain 'perquisites'. Over 400 applications arrived by one post alone.
The railway directors were to make their final choice at a board meeting and Inspector Bendick, of the Y Division, Metropolitan Police, was considered to have the best chance of securing the post. This officer for a number of years past was in charge of the police doing duty outside the company's premises at King's-cross and Holloway. However, it was Major R.C. Carr who was appointed chief of the Great Northern Railway Company's police force, assisted by Inspector Mallard, the chief local inspector.

Great Northern Railway Police, Grantham. The disaster occurred on 19 September 1906. The Scotch express, a sleeping car train for Edinburgh and Glasgow, left London from King's Cross at 8:45pm and was scheduled to stop at Grantham but rushed through at terrific speed, and on arriving at Harlaxton road bridge the locomotive left the metals, and the engine and forepart of the train fell down a steep embankment. Eleven were killed, including the driver and fireman, and sixteen were injured. (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)
Great Northern Railway Police, Grantham. The disaster occurred on 19 September 1906. The Scotch express, a sleeping car train for Edinburgh and Glasgow, left London from King's Cross at 8:45pm and was scheduled to stop at Grantham but rushed through at terrific speed, and on arriving at Harlaxton road bridge the locomotive left the metals, and the engine and forepart of the train fell down a steep embankment. Eleven were killed, including the driver and fireman, and sixteen were injured. (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)

Great Northern Railway Police, Grantham. The disaster occurred on 19 September 1906. The Scotch express, a sleeping car train for Edinburgh and Glasgow, left London from King's Cross at 8:45pm and was scheduled to stop at Grantham but rushed through at terrific speed, and on arriving at Harlaxton road bridge the locomotive left the metals, and the engine and forepart of the train fell down a steep embankment. Eleven were killed, including the driver and fireman, and sixteen were injured. (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)
Sources
- The British Newspaper Archive:
- Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, 16 February 1856
- Holborn Journal, 11 May 1860
- Bedfordshire Times and Independent, 18 August 1860
- The Scotsman, 26 August 1869
- Stamford Mercury, 5 July 1889
- Islington Gazette, 28 April 1879, 11 February 1890
- Hampstead & Highgate Express, 23 November 1901
- Croydon's Weekly Standard, 4 January 1902
- Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 7 September 1903
- Lancashire Daily Post, 20 September 1906