[PRCo] Re: PRC roster updates

[John Swindler]

>Derrick J Brashear commented:
>
>
>On Wed, 27 Jun 2001, John Swindler wrote:
>
> >As previously mentioned, Dave, PRC 1017 derailed and went over a 40 foot 
>embankment near Kennywood
>
>Where is only a 40 foot embankment found near Kennywood? On either side of 
>the park it looks to be further down, basically to the level of the 
>railroad below. I assume there were no more details?
>


Does that mean you want the full story???



"CAR BLOWN OVER EMBANKMENT AFTER RAILS HAD SPREAD
-----
CREW AND 27 PASSENGERS HAVE MIRACULOUS ESCAPE ON MCKEESPORT LINE
-----
THAW CAUSED WRECK
-----
Car 1017 of the Monongahela division of the Pittsburg (without the 'h') 
Railways went over an embankment 40 feet high opposite Oliver Station, 
Duquesne, yesterday afternoon about 4:10 o'clock, and 29 people, including 
the conductor and motorman, escaped without a scratch.

The car was speeding along a high grade, within 100 yards of the high bridge 
over Oliver's hollow, south of Kennywood Park, when it is claimed by the 
motorman, the rails spread.  The car jumped the track and plowed through the 
soft earth for about three feet, the end of the car extending over the high 
embankment as it came to a standstill.

The 27 passengers, including several women, made a rush for the doors, and 
just as the last person stepped from the car there came a violent blast of 
wind, which toppled the car over the hill, where it was crushed like an 
eggshell.

Had the car gone 15 feet farther in its fall it would have crushed the home 
of James Moffitt (note: check plat map for area to see where property of 
James Moffitt located)  The frightened passengers stood upon the tracks 
above, and as they saw the narrow escape from death they had had a moment 
before, many of them wept tears of joy.  Some of the passengers were 
suffering from nervousness and were taken to the Moffitt residence, but all 
soon revived and were able to proceed on their journey when additional cars 
arrived.

The car was bound for Pittsburg and had left Duquesne at 4:05 o'clock.  
Thomas Haddock of McKeesport was the conductor and Charles Spruce was 
motorman.

That the accident was due to the defective rails is not denied by the 
traction officials.  The accident at 4:10 o'clock was the second one at 
almost the same place yesterday.  The first accident was shortly after noon 
when car 1086 jumped.  The car was saved from going over the embankment by 
the softness of the earth.  It was soon placed on the tracks, but until a 
late hour last night, car 1017 was still on its side at the foot of the 
embankment.  A force of 50 men was at work and it was expected to have the 
tracks cleared before morning.

Mrs. Mary Moffitt, who lives in the house immediately below the point where 
the car went over the embankment, has not yet recovered from the shock.  She 
was sitting at a window sewing, and when she saw the car leave the track and 
the poeople rushing out she became dumbfounded and could not move.  The 
imperfect section of the tracks is said to be due to the thaw of yesterday 
morning, which allowed the tracks to spread where they were so near the high 
embankment.

-30-


> > By the way, where was the "West Penn Depot" in 1903?  No, it wasn't in
> > Fayette or Westmoreland Counties, because West Penn Railways didn't 
>exist in
> > 1903.  It was in the City of Allegheny, and was "abandoned and razed and
> > space used for tracks of the Fort Wayne (PRR)."  (as part of Fort Wayne
> > grade separation)(and something else I never knew)
>
>The PRR "Conemaugh Division" was the Western Pennsylvania Railroad
>first...
>
>

Thanks.  I hadn't put 2 and 2 together yet.

By the way, Derrick, on 9 Feb. 1903 Andrew Carnegie "broke his silence and 
has declared himself in favor of the Flinn-Magee tract of 32 acres along 
Woodlawn Avenue, adjoining Schenley Park" as the location for a proposed 
technical school in Pittsburgh.  One of the members of the Plan and Scope 
Committee of the technical school was John A. Brashear, chancellor of the 
Western University. (yes, Derrick, I made a copy for you)


So what does the preceding paragraph have to do with Pittsburgh Railways???  
Well, shame on any Pittsburgh Railways fans that don't recognize the name 
Flinn.  (must confess that I wouldn't have make the connection until couple 
weeks ago)  As a hint, during its construction, a certain tunnel on the 
southside was referred to as the "Flinn tunnel".   (could have just been a 
distant relative)

Just trying to keep current.

John

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