N&W in 1911--Motor cars

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
May 25, 1911

THE GRAHAM DAILY NEWS
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MOTOR CARS CALLED IN
    President L. M. Johnson, of the Norfolk and Western, does not intend that the lives of any more good railroad men shall be sacrificed on his road through the further use of the deadly motor car, and he has issued instructions to the subordinate officials to have all motor cars shipped to Roanoke for storage, except what may be necessary to accommodate the men in charge of the automatic signal block system.  These employes will be allowed to continue the use of the motor car, but, it is said, will be required to sign a lease releasing the railroad company of responsibility in case of accident.  Several cars were loaded here yesterday and tagged to headquarters at Roanoke, where they will be stored away.  The remains of the car on which the three railroad officials were riding that met with the accident at Wilmore three weeks ago was shipped from Flat Top yesterday.  The head of the railroad company was greatly distressed by the Wilmore accident of which three of his best men were the victims, one of whom met his death, and his decision in taking the motor cars from the tracks was prompted on account of this accident.  A number of men have been killed and injured this spring while using these cars, and it is believed the orders of Mr. Johnson taking them out of service will meet with general approval by railroad men.
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[It is interesting that the motor cars were taken out of service rather then establishing rules to make their operation safer.  Also, how about the requirement for signal employees to sign a release in case of a motor car accident when it appears that they were expected to use the motor cars in the performance of their duties.]

Gordon Hamilton
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