The Farnham and District Museum Society has compiled a superb, hopefully permanent exhibition on Farnham Station to mark the station’s 175th anniversary - take a stroll to the northern platform and see it for yourself.

This provided plenty of inspiration for future articles, and one such less-celebratory but none-the-less fascinating nugget of information is that on the unfortunate, often tragic accidents that blighted the station’s early days.

The earliest recounted in the exhibition occurred on July 28, 1874, when the 7.55am train from Alton was derailed approaching Farnham Station. Fortunately on this occasion no one was injured.

Less fortunate were the incidents on June 12, 1881, when a train from Guildford was derailed at Farnham Junction injuring 12 passengers, and on October 17, 1882, when another train was derailed near Farnham Junction injuring two passengers.

And worst of all was the rail disaster of May 25, 1933, when five passengers were killed and 35 injured after a Farnham-bound train derailed and was hit by another steam train near Wimbledon.

A contemporary Ministry of Transport report of the incident stated: “The 3.10pm down (steam) passenger train, Waterloo to Alton, running on the down through line, was completely derailed about 1/4 mile east of Raynes Park signal box.

“Before it had come to rest the derailed train was run into by the 12.11pm up (steam) passenger train, Southampton Terminus to Waterloo, which was running under clear signals about nine minutes late on the adjoining up through line.

“I regret to report that out of about 150 passengers in the down train five received fatal injuries, and 34 others suffered from shock or injuries, of whom three were detained in hospital.

“The driver of the up train was also seriously injured, but no complaints were received from the passengers in this train who numbered about 70."