Questions about N&W's ORDER 19 in Operating Rules during 1920s, etc.

[NW Mailing List]

For the purpose of framing my questions, the following language has been  
excerpted from an ICC report, dated November 6, 1920.  The entire report  can 
be read at:
_http://ntl1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?websearch&site=dot_railroa
ds_ 
(http://ntl1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?websearch&site=dot_railroads) 

IN RE INVESTIGATION OF AN ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED
ON THE  NORFOLK & WESTER RAILWAY, NEAR RURAL RE-
TREAT, VA., ON OCTOBER 20,  1920.
 
    Westbound local passenger train  No. 37, enroute from Roanoke. Va. To 
Bristol, Tenn… received 19 train order No.  56  reading:
"No,  14, engine 102, meet No. 37, engine 558 at Rural Retreat
                         and  No. 41, engine 107 at Crockett, No. 14 take 
siding at  Crockett."
[Arriving at Rural Retreat at 8:40 a, m.],  the east switch of the passing 
siding having been opened, the train pulled in,  stopping before the entire 
train was clear to unload passengers and  express.  After it had completed 
its work the train departed and had  proceeded a distance of about 2000 feet 
when, while running at a speed estimated  to have been from 10 to 12 miles 
per hour, it collided with train No. 14, also  on the passing siding.
Eastbound  train No. 14, enroute from Bristol, Tenn., to Roanoke, 
Va...received a copy of  19 train order 56…Approaching the west switch of the passing 
siding at Rural  Retreat, automatic signal B-3502, located about 50 feet 
west of the west switch,  was found in the stop position.  This indicated that 
the main track was  occupied between that point and the station.  The train 
was brought to a  stop and then proceeded, stopping again just clear of the 
switch.  The  switch was opened and the train took the siding [at about 
8:40 a.m.).  It  had proceeded about 1600 feet and, while running at a speed 
estimated to have  been between 18 and 20 miles per hour, it collided with 
train No. 37 at about  8:43 a.m.
 
QUESTION 1. I have a copy of an N&W Operating Rules handbook  issued to 
employees January 1, 1967.  Am I right to assume that what  appears to be a 
commonly used "19 train order" in 1920 must was defined  somewhere else, or no 
longer in effect in 1967?.
QUESTION 2. Can someone  provide me with the actual language of 19 train 
order as it would have read in  1920 and explain how and when it was routinely 
applied?
QUESTION  3. Would the tail end of No. 37 being still out on the main track 
,east of  the east switch, have caused signal B-3502 to automatically go 
into the STOP  position?
QUESTION 4. Can someone let me know how to pull up a copy of  Tom Dressler’
s article on this head-on collision that was published in the Arrow  – 
perhaps the Jan/Feb 1996 issue?  I already have an excellent photo and  would 
like to read the text of his report.
 
Don Jackson
_NWinNscale at aol.com_ (mailto:NWinNscale at aol.com) 
(540) 972-3138
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