Tren Chwarel a Modur Mewn Gwrthdrawiad

Ddydd Mercher bu damwain ddifrifol yn Methel trwy i'r tren sydd yn cludo llechi o Chwarel Dinorwig i'r Felinheli fynd i wrthdrawiad â modur yr Anglo American Oil Co. Ltd., ar y 'crossing' ger Saron. Lladdwyd gyriedydd y modur, Mr Thomas Williams, 48, 17, New Street, Caernarfon, a'i gynorthwywr, Mr William David George Williams, 19, 31, Victoria Street, Caernarfon, ar unwaith a maluriwyd y modur.
Prynhawn Gwener symudwyd y cyrff oedd o dan y wageni a'r peiriant, i ystafell y Y.M.C.A. Bethel, lle y cynhaliwyd y cwest prynhawn Sadwrn o flaen Mr Pentir Williams.
Tystiodd Mr William Evans, 1, Penrallt Cottages, Felinheli, gyriedydd y tren ers 8 mlynedd, iddo neshau at y crossing oddeutu hanner awr wedi un ar ddeg. Pan yn agoshau at y ffordd chwibannodd fel arfer. Gwelai y modur yn dod o gyfeiriad Eglwys Saron yn araf iawn, a phan oedd o fewn ychydig latheni i'r rheilffordd stopiodd, a chymerodd y gyriedydd yn ganiataol ei fod am adael i'r tren pasio. Pan oedd y tren o fewn 13 o latheni i'r ffordd, ailgychwynodd y modur, rhoddodd yntau y 'brakes' ar unwaith, ond yr oedd yn rhy ddiweddar. Tarawyd y modur yn ei ganol, ac aeth y dynion a'r modur o dan y peiriant. Stopiodd y tren o fewn 27 o latheni ar ôl y gwrthdrawiad.

Dyfarnodd y rheithier mai 'Damwain' ydoedd, ac ychwanegu yr awgrymiadau fod yr awdurdodau i osod giatau yno fydd yn cau ar y ffordd pan fydd y tren yn mynd heibio, ac i gau ar y rheilffordd ar ôl iddo basio; fod 'flagman' i'w gadw yno hyd nes y rhoddir y giatiau; fod y 'brakes' sydd o dan ofal y guard i'w gwella; fod y Cyngor Sir i roddi arwydd yno i rybuddio y cyhoedd o berigl; ac hefyd crybwyllent wneud yr un peth â'r tair 'crossings' eraill oedd ar ffordd y rheilffordd.

Erthygl o'r 'Herald Gymraeg', Ionawr 22, 1926

Collision Between a Car and a Train

An accident occurred in Bethel on Wednesday when a train carrying slates from Dinorwig Quarry to Felinheli collided with a motor from the Anglo American Oil Co. Ltd., at the 'crossing' near Saron. The driver, Mr Thomas Williams, 48, 17, New Street, Caernarfon, and his assistant, Mr William David George Williams, 19, 31, Victoria Street, Caernarfon, were both killed instantly and the motor was written off.
On Friday afternoon the bodies were moved from under the engine and the wagons to a room at the Bethel YMCA, where the inquest was held on Saturday afternoon before Mr Pentir Williams.
The train driver for over 8 years , Mr William Evans, 1, Penrallt Cottages, Felinheli, testified that he neared the crossing at about half past eleven. As he neared the road he 'whistled' as usual. He saw the motor approaching slowly from the direction of Saron Church, and it stopped when it was only a few yards from the railway and the driver took it for granted that he would allow the train to pass. When the train was within 13 yards of the road, the motor restarted, and he applied the brakes, but it was too late. The motor was struck in the middle and the men and the car went under the engine. The train stopped 27 yards after the collision.
The coroner 'judged' it an 'Accident' and added the comments that the authorities should place gates to shut on the road when a train goes by, and to shut on the railway after it passes; that a 'flagman' be placed there until the gates be installed; that the County Council place sign stop warn people of the danger; and also to do the same at the other 3 'crossings' on the railway.

An article from the 'Welsh Herald', January 22,1926