68th ANNIVERSARY

[NW Mailing List]

I just couldn't let the day end without remembering the fateful anniversary of Virginian AE #800. Sixty-eight years ago today the mighty 2-10-10-2 lumbered out of Roanoke in the wee hours of morning, with another train-load of black diamonds. About an hour, or so, later she leaned into a left-hand curve nearing Goodview, VA. Apparently restricted water flow from the tender caused a low water situation in the boiler. Even though still on a slight upgrade, the crown sheet became exposed and the 800 blew-up. All three crewmen on the head-end lost their lives that morning.

I wish I could say "April Fool" at this point of the story. Unfortunately, fate raised it's ugly head that day, cutting short the lives of three railroaders. As we know now, the 800 was rebuilt to run again, but the lives lost that day still affect families and those of us who remember and appreciate the men who made the railroads.

Jeff sanders
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20090401/0746909c/attachment.htm>