1907 - Broken Rail Causes Wreck

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Roanoke Times - June 08, 1907

BROKEN RAIL CAUSES WRECK

   Lynchburg, Va., June 7, -- At a short distance west of the Norfolk 
and Western tunnel around 5 o'clock yesterday morning, a second 
section of passenger train No. 42, from Bristol, was wrecked by 
reason of a broken rail, which latter had fractured by some unknown 
cause recently, the rail being a new one laid within a month.
   There were about thirty-five passengers on the train and all 
escaped without injury, none of the coaches being derailed. The 
baggage and express cars rolled down the embankment almost to the 
brink of Blackwater creek. In the former was Baggagemaster B. G. 
Walker, of No. 105 Harrison street, this city, and the latter was in 
charge of Express Messenger W. E. Ward, of Bristol. While their cars 
were rolling down the bank these two employees had a thrilling time 
dogging the matter with which the card were loaded. Both of them were 
slightly hurt, the express messenger having a few scratched about one 
of his knees and the baggagemaster received a few slight bruises. The 
train was running at a low rate of speed and the prompt application 
of the emergency brakes brought it almost immediately to a 
standstill, thus averting a serious wreck.
   Superintendent V. A. Riton, who happened to be a passenger, stated 
that the damage to the cards which went down the embankment was 
comparatively small, as both of them were intact. The front truck of 
the foremost day coach left the track, but the coupling pulled out 
and it did not follow the baggage and express cards, although it hung 
over the side of the bank until it was pulled back.
   The passengers were brought to the city shortly before 8 o'clock, 
and after having been given time for a breakfast here, were take east 
on a special train made up here.
   Only the Durham train, which was due to leave here a 6 o'clock, 
passed the scene of the wreck before 9:45 o'clock, and this train was 
able to get by at 7 o'clock. With this exception, the traffic was 
completely blocked for nearly five hours, and with that the track was 
clear in remarkably quick time.
   Train No. 1, due to leave the city at 7 o'clock, could not pass 
the wreck until 9:45 o'clock, and No. 6, the local from Roanoke 
pulled in the union station at 9:50 o'clock.


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- Roger Link