1907 - Steam Shovel on Rampage

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Roanoke Times - October 15, 1907

Steam Shovel on Rampage

   A steam shovel, which was being shipped from Christiansburg to 
Waverly, W. Va., caused havoc along the line of railroad from Waltons 
to Christiansburg late Saturday afternoon. It seems that the draw-bar 
was pulled out at Waltons and the shovel started down the track. The 
operator at Vickars was notified that it was coming and was 
instructed to place some obstruction on the track so as to derail the 
car. He did so, but placed it on the wrong track, and in a few 
moments the flying car, going at the rate of about forty miles per 
hour, flew by. He telegraphed to the next operator and stated upon 
which track the wild car was coming, and this operator managed to get 
some cross-ties and rails on the track in time to throw it off. The 
steam shovel was not much damaged, but the operators along the line 
say they do not want to have the same experience again.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link