Both Uses

avert
in
The Railway Children
(Edited)

It is proposed to make a small presentation to you, in commemoration of your prompt and courageous action in warning the train on the — inst., and thus averting what must, humanly speaking, have been a terrible accident.
p. 124.9 *

averting = preventing
And inside the watches were engraved after the name of the watch's new owner: 'From the Directors of the Northern and Southern Railway in grateful recognition of the courageous and prompt action which averted an accident on — 1905.'
p. 130.9

averted = prevented

Definitions:

(1) (avert as in: avert her eyes)
turn away or aside -- often to turn your eyes away from something
(2) (avert as in: avert a strike)
prevent from happening
(3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)