N&W in 1903 -- Runaway (1908 - Caboose on the Jump)

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[The 1908 runaway described in the message located at the bottom of this message took place after the original N&W passenger station located at track level between the eastbound and westbound tracks near Jefferson St. had been replaced in 1905 by the station in its present location above the tracks.  The 1903 incident in the message immediately below took place while the old track-level station was still in service.]



The Roanoke Times -- September 6 1903

A THRILLING MOMENT.
    An exciting incident took place last evening at the Norfolk and Western depot, while the Layton Carnival forces were embarking from the train.  The Lynchburg train, due at 8:15, was also at the station, and the crowd standing about was an unusually large one.  Just at the moment the throng were surging across the track from the depot up Jefferson street a runaway freight, consisting of two or three cars, came roaring past the crossing.  Dozens of men, women and children had started to cross the track at the time, and the escape of several from instant death was miraculous, as no one knew of the oncoming freight.  The three cars which swept down upon the crowd were heavily loaded and as they tore by, a negro brakeman rushed across the platform and scaled the side of one of the cars, eventually applying the brakes and checking their speed some distance further down the track.  It was a thrilling moment.



Roanoke Times - February 8, 1908

Caboose on the Jump

   Much excitement was created in the neighborhood of the passenger 
station of the Norfolk & Western Railroad yesterday afternoon by the 
obstreperous conduct of a caboose. While some shifting was being done 
some distance above the Jefferson street crossing, a caboose took it 
into its head to start upon a voyage of its own, and it forthwith 
began rolling at lively rate of speed in the direction of Norfolk. As 
it proceeded, it rapidly gathered headway, and when it passed 
Jefferson street, it was making about twenty-five miles an hour. Of 
course it had the advantage of a down grade, and this enabled it to 
laugh at such things as locomotives and pinch bars.
   When the caboose was within a hundred yards or so of Jefferson 
street, it ran into a hand car that was enjoying a little leisure and 
sunning itself with great content. The hand car was naturally 
surprised at being thus rudely disturbed. And it was still more 
surprised when the caboose refused to run over it, but shoved it 
along the track as if it had been a bundle of straw.
   Near the crossing, an employe of the Norfolk & Western managed, at 
the risk of breaking his neck, to jump on the runaway, but when he 
tried to apply the brakes, he found that he could not do so, and 
seeing that it was useless for him to remain on the car, he jumped to 
the ground.
   The caboose fortunately met with no serious encounters and with 
absolute disregard to precedent, railroad regulations, and the 
dignity of things in general, continued its journey gaily. And it did 
not consent to stop until it was a half mile below the passenger 
station, where it came in contact with an up grade, that in railroad 
Thursday afternoon by the its independence.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link
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