Former Surry Sussex & Southampton Ry 3-foot gauge 2-6-0 6 (see below linked photo) had a low water explosion (crownsheet failure) while in service for its second owner, the Argent Lumber Co. of SC. IIRC, the engine lacked a water glass and the fireman was relying on just the trycocks. Today 6 operates on the Midwest Central RR at Mount Pleasant, IA (part of the Old Settlers steam engine show).

Regards,
Jim Robinson


former SS&S 2-6-0 6

Dave,

Yes, I remember that a roll-over was part of the discovery. I also think that roll-over is part of the reason #2317 is a finicky machine when it comes to her running gear. She's not straight.

I remember going over her with an NPS staffer some years back who pointed out a detactable off-centeredness on her boiler. I was also told that when her new cab was fabricated, they had to be careful to take into account her altered geometry.

Nothing about that was unusual back in the day, but it is a pretty neat element to see in the preservation era. I really love that machine. She's got a lot of personality. Can we get the CPR button-whistle put back on for a weekend?

Rob

> Hello

> When some NPS staff were working on a
> detailed history study on Steamtown's CP
> 2317 they related to me that the bad-luck
> engine was involved in a boiler explosion
> and a rollover somwhere along the line. I
> can't find the info now for the life of me.

> Dave Crosby


rdavis@rypn.org

SP 2479 was wrecked in California,

While pulling the southbound "OWL" passenger train in February 1937, the locomotive derailed in Selma, CA (south of Fresno) after hitting, at speed, a stalled automobile. The inhibriated driver of the automotive had attempted to drive ON the rails for several hundred feet before the front tires became lodged in the next switch frog. The driver and his new wife (on their honeymoon) managed to get clear of the impact. The crumbled auto lodged underneath the pilot causing the locomotive to "stub its toe" at the following grade crossing. Unfortunately, neither member of the locomotive crew survived.

Ironically, the automobile driver was acquitted of manslaugher charges as his defense attorney was able to state that the locomotive's pilot was "incorrectly" maintained by the railroad. If maintained properly he argued, the automobile would have been thrown clear off the tracks.

kamiddle@rockwellcollins.com

Duluth Missabe & Iron Range 225, now on display at Proctor, MN, was wrecked several times, once very badly. It was for years the "hoodoo" engine on the Missabe.

Duluth & North Eastern 2-8-0 No. 16 was wrecked at least three times, taking many crew members with it. It is on display at Cloquet, Minnesota.

Jeff Terry

jterry618@earthlink.net

2317 had a boiler explosion in Western Canada, I believe in the '30's. At a Steamtown Railfan's Weekend we got a first hand accound from an old timer who must have been working as third cook in his teen years who said he was carrying a tray of dishes when the boiler went and he and the dishes were planted against the end of the dining room in the emergency stop. Sounds apocryphal, but the facts fit. Somewhere we had records of the reboilering at the CPR shops out there.

Steve Zuiderveen
(formerly) Car Foreman, Steamtown Foundation

> Dave,

> Yes, I remember that a roll-over was part of
> the discovery. I also think that roll-over
> is part of the reason #2317 is a finicky
> machine when it comes to her running gear.
> She's not straight.

> I remember going over her with an NPS
> staffer some years back who pointed out a
> detactable off-centeredness on her boiler. I
> was also told that when her new cab was
> fabricated, they had to be careful to take
> into account her altered geometry.

> Nothing about that was unusual back in the
> day, but it is a pretty neat element to see
> in the preservation era. I really love that
> machine. She's got a lot of personality. Can
> we get the CPR button-whistle put back on
> for a weekend?

> Rob


SZuidervee@aol.com

> Duluth Missabe & Iron Range 225, now on
> display at Proctor, MN, was wrecked several
> times, once very badly. It was for years the
> "hoodoo" engine on the Missabe.

If in fact, number 225 WAS a "hoodoo" engine on the Missabe, wonder why she was preserved and not one of the other Yellowstones? Another mystery of the steam preservation story!

> Duluth & North Eastern 2-8-0 No. 16 was
> wrecked at least three times, taking many
> crew members with it. It is on display at
> Cloquet, Minnesota.

> Jeff Terry


midlandblb@cs.com

L&A 509, which I think is in Chatanooga after many private owners, was involved in a nasty head on while in passenger service at Grants, LA in 1936. Four were killed and 6 injured. If you know some of the specifics, like RR name or date, you may find the ICC accident reports at the link below.

ICC Accident Reports
SZuidervee@aol.com

I think that's half the fun of working in the railroad preservation field. Locomotives, particularly steam locos are imbued with personalities, just as our friend says in his post regarding Steamtown's 2317. It's fascinating to have a preserved loco that connects with so many lives, events in history, and details that make the past of railroading come alive. I am really glad that these engines "made it" and weren't trashed just because of accident events. In instances like PRR 520, we'd be greatful for any locomotive of that class. The fact that she was a total rebuild just adds to the appreciation of what we have.


glueck@maine.edu

Presumably a lot of these wreck engines were in better shape than many of their sisters at the end of steam, having received major rebuilds after their accidents. There certainly are more of them around than I would have guessed before reading this thread!

rjenkins@railfan.net

L&A 509 was sold to the City of Cookeville, Tennessee back a couple of years ago. Presently it's "propped up" at the Cookeville depot.

awalker2002@comcast.net

Fuzzy memories of the text on the gravestone-like monuments in front of GTW 5632 in the park in Durand, Michigan, tell me that this 4-6-2 killed some or all of its crew in a roll-over at one point in its history. One of these stone markers is devoted the the "Knights Templar Wreck," one of several nasty wrecks of circus trains and specials in the Durand area in the early 20th Century, but I don't think the 5632 was involved.

This Pacific is jacketless and painted and in the hands of a historical society, but is in semi-crummy condition.

So far as we know, PM 1225 was never involved in any wrecks. The only signs of accidents we ever discovered were some tiny nicks from flying DeSotos in the pilot and air-pump fenders, and some ballast and automobile taillight lens fragments on top of the brake beams. Although I suppose I should include the stuff that was bent more recently by various enginehouse doors and whitetail deer, which pack a surprising wallop.

Aarne Frobom
The Steam Railroading Institute
P. O. Box 665
Owosso, MI 48840-0665

If memory serves me correctly, the dent in Milwaukee 261's pilot is from an automobile accident in which the driver went home unharmed.

higginson_john@hotmail.com

Cass Scenic RR #4"s frame was cut and separated to allow a firebox rebuild about 30 years ago now, in the old CSRR shop, before the RR had a shop crane that permitted their loco boilers to be lifted entirely from the frames involved. Old timers, now deceased,told of this process being done with other, older Cass logging locos, as well. If I recall correctly, the same process was also done with CSRR #5 years ago, in the old CSRR shop.

Most of the older Cass Shays, from the logging era, had old Cass Shop fabricated crankshafts, in addition to Shay #5. CSRR #1 and "old" Shay # (c/n 1907)are among those I've seen myself. I once spoke with one of the old W. Va. P & P. Co.
era welders, who welded a couple of these cranks together. Once the welding of them started, it continued until the work was completed...and at one time, the, then, shop foreman kept a couple such extra cranks on hand, ready to be installed.

I never heard of any boiler explosion with either former West Virginia Northern RR #8 or #9.
The #9 was involved in a deadly runaway back in World War I with boxcars of sacked coal (Coal in sacks was once sold to city apartment dwellers for
their cooking/heating stoves), which pretty well tore the stout 2-8-0 apart.

gafizer@iceweb.net

I really love that
> machine. She's got a lot of personality. Can
> we get the CPR button-whistle put back on
> for a weekend?

Never had one. Only newer model CPR steam engines were equipped with air operated valve. Those that had air did not have cord.


Old Time Trains
oldtimetrains@rrmail.com

> Cass Scenic RR #4"s frame was cut and
> separated to allow a firebox rebuild about
> 30 years ago now, in the old CSRR shop,
> before the RR had a shop crane that
> permitted their loco boilers to be lifted
> entirely from the frames involved. Old
> timers, now deceased,told of this process
> being done with other, older Cass logging
> locos, as well. If I recall correctly, the
> same process was also done with CSRR #5
> years ago, in the old CSRR shop.

> Most of the older Cass Shays, from the
> logging era, had old Cass Shop fabricated
> crankshafts, in addition to Shay #5. CSRR #1
> and "old" Shay # (c/n 1907)are
> among those I've seen myself. I once spoke
> with one of the old W. Va. P & P. Co.
> era welders, who welded a couple of these
> cranks together. Once the welding of them
> started, it continued until the work was
> completed...and at one time, the, then, shop
> foreman kept a couple such extra cranks on
> hand, ready to be installed.

> I never heard of any boiler explosion with
> either former West Virginia Northern RR #8
> or #9.
> The #9 was involved in a deadly runaway back
> in World War I with boxcars of sacked coal
> (Coal in sacks was once sold to city
> apartment dwellers for
> their cooking/heating stoves), which pretty
> well tore the stout 2-8-0 apart.

George:

Perhaps I mispoke on one of the WVN 2-8-0's being involved in a boiler explosion. I was going from memory in an old TRAINS Magazine article on the Preston. Perhaps the article read that #19 (WVN #9) had been involved in a wreck and received a new boiler from Baldwin. Is that possible? Does anyone have any firm information? Or access to the old TRAINS article on the Preston?

Les

midlandblb@cs.com