Wreckmaster

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Several questions have been raised about my posting on the above subject, and they have been listed at the end of this message.  First off, I should have indicated that the photo was copyrighted 2000 by Grubb Photo, Bluefield, WV.  Also, it was not previously in the archives, but I have placed a copy there.

The date or the number of cars is not known to me, but I think that the date is much earlier than 2000.  In fact, a magnifying glass examanation of the original print reveals one H-9 hopper car on its side, making the probable date sometime before the 1983 date of the last H-9 given in Joe's response below.

In view of the above, consider the following information from the book on the strike of 1978 (I have misplaced my copy, but Louie Newton supplied this information):

  On the last day of the strike, September 29, 1978, at 11:00 AM someone released the handbrakes of the 15 head cars of 106 cars sitting on of Track No. 5 in the East Yard (1.6% descending grade eastbound).  The 106 cars rolled eastward until the derail at the east end of Track No. 5 did its job.  72 cars derailed for a total damage of $632,000.

Gordon Hamilton
  a.. When did it occur and what was the cause?  I'd like to put it in the next issue of the Winston-Salem newsletter, The Rail  
  George

  George Weber


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  a.. Good stuff! I imagine that happened a FEW times. A rough count shows about 70 cars. I think the hook from Williamson or Roanoke also made an appearance. But nowadays, the wreckmaster would BE fishing and his cell phone rings!

  b.. Charlie Long


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  a.. That was wonderful!  What was the date of the derailment?

  b.. .  The last 2 bay H9 hoppers were only retired in 1983.
  There were some losses (accidents etc.) of H9s every year, but the real
  decline began in 1967 and continued through 1980 when there were just over
  a thousand.  The maximum number of H9s was 12,128 in 1957 after the rebuild
  "heavy repair" and conversion of the HL hoppers was completed.  So, my
  guess is sometime in the late 60's early 70's.

  Does anyone else have a better guess?  No fair looking in the archives for
  the picture with date.  Joe, AKA Norfolk Bear



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  a.. How many were there, Gordon?  About 50?

  EdKing




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