From today's TRAINS newswire: (Also reported in The Salt Lake Tribune)

Man killed in collision with Utah museumÂ’s steam locomotive

A 28-year-old Salt Lake City man was killed after his car rammed into the side of Southern Pacific 0-6-0 No. 1297 at Ogden Union Station early Sunday, Utah newspapers reported.

The man was driving at a high rate of speed when he ran through a stop sign and into the locomotive, which was knocked two feet off the tracks. The engine, owned by the Utah State Railroad Museum based at the station, incurred about $1000 worth of damage, the newspapers said.

(Could this be the first death ever involving a collision with a static steam locomotive?)



davew833@yahoo.com

> From today's TRAINS newswire: (Also reported
> in The Salt Lake Tribune)

> Man killed in collision with Utah museumÂ’s
> steam locomotive

> A 28-year-old Salt Lake City man was killed
> after his car rammed into the side of
> Southern Pacific 0-6-0 No. 1297 at Ogden
> Union Station early Sunday, Utah newspapers
> reported.

> The man was driving at a high rate of speed
> when he ran through a stop sign and into the
> locomotive, which was knocked two feet off
> the tracks. The engine, owned by the Utah
> State Railroad Museum based at the station,
> incurred about $1000 worth of damage, the
> newspapers said.

> (Could this be the first death ever
> involving a collision with a static steam
> locomotive?)

Far from it. There were many cases (during the steam era, of course) of cars running into the sides of locos.

kevinmccabe@avenew.com

> Far from it. There were many cases (during
> the steam era, of course) of cars running
> into the sides of locos.

I believe Dave W's use of the word "static" refers to the commonly understood meaning used in this forum of "stuffed, mounted and on display park steam locomotive".

Mr McCabe (an attorney, i believe) refers to there being many cases of cars hitting "static" engines--where "static" means stationary (i.e. standing still; "dead in their tracks", but not yet dead!).

It is after midnight and i just had to smile...

sc 'doc' lewis



Heber Valley Railroad
utweyesguy@aol.com

This surely refutes any who don't believe in the process of natural selection. Do I hear a nomination for the 2002 Darwin Award?

On a more tragic note, how bad was the damage to the 0-6-0? Any luck recovering repair costs from the estate? Does Utah have no fault insurance?

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Utah does have no-fault insurance.

Not sure what damage was caused to #1297, I might try to get up and look at it today. It was already in extremely poor condition having spent 30+ years as unprotected "playground equipment" in an Ogden park. Everything small, delicate, and/or valuable was removed or destroyed by kids, vandals , or "railfans" long ago. A cosmetic restoration was started some years ago but aborted. I'm opposed to scrapping any steam loco in this day and age, but some might consider it merciful in this case. No criticism of the museum is intended or implied- this loco was a mess when they got it.

Interestingly, Ron Ziel, in his book "The Twilight of Steam Locomtives" commented on the poor condition of #1297 (and its park companion, UP 0-6-0 #4436) clear back in the early '60s. I believe he said it was a 'wry comment' about the people or the city of Ogden. Again, his words, not mine. #4436 is also at the Ogden museum and has fared slightly better, having received new paint and lettering a few years ago.

> This surely refutes any who don't believe in
> the process of natural selection. Do I hear
> a nomination for the 2002 Darwin Award?

> On a more tragic note, how bad was the
> damage to the 0-6-0? Any luck recovering
> repair costs from the estate? Does Utah have
> no fault insurance?

> Dave


davew833@yahoo.com

I felt bad that I kinda laughed when I read this post. I'm glad I wasn't alone.

Wonder if Operation Lifesaver will change their curriculum? "Stop, look, listen,& don't be an idiot!"

I also wonder if the family of the person will try and get a settlement. I can here the lawyer now.."If that engine had not been parked there, my client would not have died" or some such nonsense... And then try to have the poor 0-6-0 scrapped.

Alan Levy

AlanL759@aol.com