Des Moines traction, and Angel's Flight

Dick Ikenberry · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2001 10:31 am

IÂ’m always on the lookout for materials of any kind on the Des Moines Railway Company streetcars. I have the CERA Bulletins #100 and #114, and photos from DaveÂ’s Electric Railroads web site, and would appreciate any other leads anyone can offer.

Also, has any more information become available on the AngelÂ’s Flight tragedy since the postings immediately after it occurred?

Many thanks for your help!

Dick

ri51425@alltel.net

Frank Hicks · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2001 10:27 pm

There is one preserved car that I know of from Des Moines. It is #512, built by McGuire-Cummings in 1915. It's on the grounds of the Boone & Scenic Valley Railway in Boone, IA. It's only a body, and from what I've heard is in a state of partial disassembly.

Also, in case you're interested, there's a Des Moines trolley bus preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL. #239, a type TC44 trolley coach, was built by Brill/ACF in 1948. It is currently operable, and has been driven on the demonstration trolley bus line at IRM in recent years.

Frank Hicks

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2001 11:29 pm

> Also, has any more information become available on the AngelÂ’s Flight tragedy
> since the postings immediately after it occurred?

Investigation is still going on. Recent Los Angeles Times article noted the design changes while under re-construction and the various problems and comments of the people involved.

One design change was the change from one cable on one drum to two cables with two seperate drums. It was earlier reported that metal shavings were found at spline connections to the drum for the failed car.

Consultanting engineers suggested some kind of rail brakes. This were not developed and some say that these would not have been practicable with the three-rail system.

LA Times has on-line archives (latimes.com) and the article is free for 14 days. But you have to register to get access. See March 1, 2001.

Brian Norden

bnorden@gateway.net

Dick Ikenberry · **Posted:** Sat Mar 03, 2001 9:38 pm

Thank you to Frank and Brian for your info! I plan to visit the Illinois Railway Museum this summer, and will make a point of looking up the DM trolley bus. Also want to get to Boone again sometime, as it's been many years since my last visit there (shortly after they took delivery of their Chinese steam locomotive).

I'll be looking into LA Times articles on Angel's Flight - glad to know that lead.

Dick

ri51425@alltel.net