Railroad Accidents, Their Cause and PreventionRichards, R. C. (Ralph Coffin)
History
Railroad Accidents, Their Cause and Prevention
Richards, R. C. (Ralph Coffin)
Railroad accidents
L. P. Jarvis, engineer, and Samuel Minns, fireman, injured
November 20, at 7:15 a.m., one-half mile east of Peeble's Corners;
engine No. 759 had just backed in on side track with work train,
and switch had not yet been closed; engine No. 1473, train No. 48,
Engineer Tibbits, Conductor Perry, came along at a high rate of
speed, and ran into this open switch just east of the home signal,
colliding with engine No. 759.
February 14, at 8:20 p.m., one mile north of Indianapolis, Ohio
division, extra freight engine, Packard conductor, collided with
Ohio division passenger train No. 11. This freight train had an
order to run from Indianapolis to Cameron as an extra. Indiana
division passenger train 141, due at Indianapolis at 8 p.m., was
15 minutes late. Conductor Packard of the extra was on station
platform when this train pulled in. He supposed it was Ohio
division No. 11 and so told his engineer, and pulled out and met
No. 11 a mile from the station. Two engineers and one fireman were
killed and five trainmen injured. If Rule 53 requiring conductors
and engineers of trains at meeting points to ascertain by word of
mouth what trains they are had been complied with accident would
have been avoided.
Nov. 5 freight train No. 52 slowed down to take side track at Park
Rapids when extra freight moving in same block, on caution card,
ran into caboose and rear brakeman was killed. If Rules 7, 14 or
15 had been complied with accident would not have occurred.
Rule 12a says: When you get a train order the conductors must read it
aloud and then sign it and show it to the engineman, the rear brakeman
or flagman, and the engineman must show it to the fireman and in case
of freight train to the head brakeman, who are required to read it,
the object being that every employee on the train will know what the
order is and if the engineman or conductor forget it the brakeman or
fireman may remember and by remembering prevent an accident.
DERAILMENTS
Next come injuries caused by derailments, which generally result from
running into open switches, off derails, too fast running at bad
places in the track, defective equipment or track. Nearly all of the
cases would be avoided by careful running, proper inspection of track
and equipment, and by compliance with the rules.
Oct. 21. 10 a.m. Passenger train 41 derailed near Venice while
running around a reverse curve fifty miles an hour. Engineer
killed; fireman and twenty passengers injured.
April 27. Way car jumped track at middle lead switch in Pewaukee
yard and switchman Jno. Williams killed; Jas. Grant and Robert
Riley injured.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account