At approximately 6:05 pm the southbound train left the station heading for Ormskirk having been turned onto the downline by the signalman on duty at Burscough.
The northbound train was eventually due to carry on to Fleetwood to disembark passengers for the Belfast steamer ferry.
Those who could, scrambled out of the wreckage to be met by railway officials who had heard the collision and were making their way toward the site of the crash.
The pointsman, Anthony Melia, from Burscough Junction station was taken into custody and appeared at the subsequent inquiry.
[4] Anthony Melia was found not guilty, by the inquiry, of criminal negligence[5] Dr Hall of Preston, who was a passenger on one of the trains rendered valuable assistance at the scene of the accident[6] As a result of the accident the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway promised to carry out improvements to the station to prevent a similar disaster occurring.