Late in the evening of 2nd December 1878 a train consisting of three locomotives ( Hercules and Atlas in front and Severn at the rear) 22 coal wagons, 3 goods wagons, 11 empties and a brake van ran away down the notorious 7 mile bank descending from Torpantau to Talybont. By the time it reached the village the 400 ton train had far exceeded the regulation 10 mph to possibly 60 mph and came off the track where the line curved at the bridge adjacent to the White Hart. Four men were killed and two seriously injured.