[PRCo] Re: #1727 Accident

[Harold Geissenheimer]

Greetings
There was an uphill derail on Fineview to restrain a car drifting back
down the hill.

Did the S Hills Jct derails also serve to prevent cars entering the
tunnel from one track sidewiping a car entering on another track?

Harold Geissenheimer

John Swindler wrote:

>Yes, different circumstances at low speeds, but same results at high speeds. 
>  In the earlier case, the operator's actions seem to have caused the 
>accident.  In the 1987 case, the operators inaction seem to have caused the 
>accident.
>
>I have the news clippings from the circa 1917 accident, but wasn't there an 
>earlier tunnel run-away?
>
>Jim, you mentioned couple years ago that you had a map that indicated a 
>number of derails on PRC.  Wonder if this was to make the operator make a 
>safety stop before entering a severe downgrade??  Or were the derails part 
>way down the hill??
>
>>From the Pittsburgh Dispatch, the number of run-away cars circa 1902-1905 
>was rather gruesome.  Quickly explains steel cars and air brakes.  And 
>perhaps also derails.
>
>John
>
>  
>
>>From: "James B. Holland" <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com>
>>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>>Subject: [PRCo] Re: #1727 Accident
>>Date: Tue, 11 May 2004 13:34:59 -0700
>>
>>John Swindler wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Guess we don't want to mention the removal of the necessary action safety
>>>switches at the south end of the tunnel.  Installed by Pittsburgh 
>>>      
>>>
>>Railways
>>    
>>
>>>after previous 'rocket sled' experience on 6% tunnel downgrade circa 
>>>      
>>>
>>1917.
>>    
>>
>>>(low floor car on rt. 48 (?))
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>             Far different circumstances  --  wasn't the low-floor
>>already into the tunnel, trolley dewired, jam packed car, motorman angry
>>because he had to get out to replace trolley when this is the
>>conductor's job but conductor jammed into crowd and unable to move.
>>So motorman gets back in and takes out his anger on the controls and
>>winds it up.
>>
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>
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