On June 18th, 1900, a corridor express train from Paddington ran into the back of a stationary race-day special at Slough Station, killing several passengers.

The fireman, Henry Cann, was stoking the firebox, and by chance looked up as the train was passing the danger signals. He shouted to the driver and applied the vacuum brakes. Woodman quickly reversed the engine and blasted sand under the wheels to aid braking.

On the station, staff saw the approaching train, and warned passengers still on the stationary train to run for their lives. Several railway staff were later commended for their bravery and rewarded from a subscription fund set up for the purpose.

Injured passengers were sent to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington and the Windsor Royal Infirmary. Those with minor injuries were treated at the Royal Hotel and local homes. One casualty, Mr Powell, a GWR employee, died at a later date from his injuries.

Inquests held at Slough and Paddington absolved the driver of blame but the jury at Windsor found him culpably negligent and he was sent for trial at Reading assizes on a charge of manslaughter. The jury at trial found him not guilty to the cheers of the public gallery.

An important outcome of the disaster was an improvement to the braking system on the GWR network. This surpassed any other system and was so efficient that it was to remain in use for the next 70 years.