A derailment of a night mail train from Scotland to London occurred on the North Eastern Railway when a tender axle suddenly fractured on 28 December 1869 near Dalton Junction, south of Darlington, England.

There were only slight injuries among the staff, but the accident was a warning of the problem of premature axle failure.

The driver whistled for the guard's brakes, but did not reverse the engine for fear of damage to the carriages behind.

The engine came to a dead stop in 220 yards from the point of alarm, and both guards and firemen went to the nearest stations to alert any oncoming trains of the blockage to the line.

[1] The tender axle was eventually found in four separate pieces, having fractured across the shaft, and the rails were severely damaged as well.