[PRCo] Re: Much ado about nothing

[Fred Schneider]

Ah, but if I think I understand what you are thinking about Ken, the Chicago incident with 7078 wasn't a split switch.   The whole car turned left as it was supposed to on a diversion route.   But the motorman apparently paid no attention to a gasoline truck coming the other way and took out the truck.   The 8,000 gallons of gasoline took out the streetcar and several buildings in the vicinity.   It had nothing to do with the single point switch.   Totally different situation.   

That was the one that caused the industry to rethink blinker doors because many were incinerated in the back of the car because they were pressed against the doors and couldn't escape.   Remember that the Muni 1015-1040 order in 1952 came with folding doors as a result of that accident.   

Life magazine is on-line these days if you want to look at the gory pictures.   The accident happened May 25, 1950.

You will find it in the June 5th, 1950 issue of Life magazine.   Use the link below and then scroll down to page 30.

http://books.google.com/books?id=bE0EAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

On Sep 5, 2010, at 10:07 AM, Ken and Tracie wrote:

> I do not wish to sound insensitive, but in view of what happened in Chicago 
> thirteen years previously, this really was nothing.
> 
> K.
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dwight Long" <dwightlong at verizon.net>
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>; "Ed Lybarger" <trams2 at comcast.net>; 
> "Matthew R Barry" <mrb190 at pitt.edu>
> Sent: Saturday, September 04, 2010 10:58 PM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Much ado about nothing
> 
> 
>> Fred
>> Good ole single point switches!
>> 
>> Dwight 
> 
>