N&W in 1904 -- Passenger Train Collision

[NW Mailing List]

It is interesting to read about these head-ons. Must have been quite an occurance, and spectacular, back then. Must have been often too. List moderators reported one, back in the summer, from 1907(?) in the mainline tunnel here in Lynchburg. To say the least, the young man's quick thinking and bravery was commendable. It is hard to imagine being in a position to flag and not being in harms way of derailing equipment.
Charlie Long 

-----Original Message-----

>From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

>Sent: Nov 8, 2007 10:17 PM

>To: N&W Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

>Subject: N&W in 1904 -- Passenger Train Collision

>

>PASSENGER TRAINS COLLIDE HEAD-ON

>

>Negro Flagman Prevents Great Loss of Life at Irving

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>    Roanoke, Va., June 13. -- Two Norfolk and Western passenger trains had a "head on" collision at Irving, between Montvale and Thaxton, this morning, and but for a negro flagman there would probably have been great loss of life.

>    Passenger train second No. 6, delayed No. 42, due here at 11:55, was going east, and No. 1 was coming from Lynchburg.  Both trains were on the main line.  A negro flagman, seeing that a collision was going to happen, flagged the west-bound train, which lessened its speed.  The east-bound train came from around a curve, and the engineer seeing a collision unavoidable, cut off all he could, and he and the fireman jumped, as did the engineer and fireman of the west-bound train.  Both engines were badly damaged, and the express and mail car of the east-bound train badly smashed.  Postal Clerk Fred Glenn of the east-bound train jumped and sprained his hip, and Postal Clerk C. C. Yoder of the west-bound train was badly shaken up by falling on his back.  The two mail clerks were taken to the hospital at Lynchburg.  A preacher, whose name could not be learned, was standing on the platform of a car when the engines came together and was thrown to the ground.  He was pretty badly bruised, but his injuries are not al all serious.  He is now being cared for at Irving.

>    The only other passenger injured was a negro who received a bad cut on the head.  Several received slight bruises, and all were more or less shaken up by the collision.

>    The wreck car was sent to the scene of the wreck, and soon had the track clear, the west-bound train due at 9 arriving at 11.

>    The collision was caused by a misunderstanding of orders, both conductors reading their orders to remain on the main line, when one should have received orders to take the siding.

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>Bluefield Daily Telegraph

>June 14, 1904

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>[This is an unedited copy of the original article, and the word "negro" was not capitalized in the original article]

>

>Gordon Hamilton