Railway Navvies buried alive...

In December 1864, during the construction of the Midland Railway's line from Derby to Manchester, a huge landslip occurred at the mouth of the tunnel at Bugsworth. The slip, consisting of an estimated 200,000 tons of earth, killed one man, and trapped eleven others who were working inside the tunnel. A rescue operation was begun, but it was many hours before the slip could be cleared, and the trapped men reached. 

To the surprise of the rescue party they found the men alive and well. Furthermore, rather than attempt to dig themselves out, the men had decided to carry on with the work of constructing the tunnel. They reasoned that a rescue would be attempted by their colleagues outside, so they might as well keep working (and presumably continue to be paid).

Original Times report

Robert Anstruther, MP, in a letter to the Times, praised the conduct of the men. He said they were, "The sinew and backbone of the nation", and said that, "their heroism and devotion to duty" should be rewarded. He was willing to start the collection by donating £5. History doesn't record whether the navvies received their reward.

Demolition of Bugsworth tunnel 1902

The tunnel was removed in 1902, and replaced with a wide cutting to allow the quadrupling of the tracks.