N&W in 1911--Troubles

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
January 31, 1911

DAY OF TROUBLE FOR THE TRAVELERS
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Slide, Washout and Wreck Tie Up Trains for Many Hours Along Tug River
    Train No. 4 pulled into the city last night at 12:20, over fifteen hours late, after a day of experiences which seldom comes to passenger trains on this road.  The train was held from seven o'clock yesterday morning until after six o'clock last night at Glen Alum on account of a bridge, which was temporarily propped, giving away under a train of cars shortly before the passenger train arrived at that point.  Then it was held for about two hours by the wreck which occurred at Panther, and behind it as the day drew to a close came trains No. 2 and No. 16, both of which had to wait until the wreckage at Panther and the bridge at Lindsey could be repaired.
    It appears that a fast freight was running across a bridge near Lindsey when suddenly the bridge sagged, the bench beams having been washed out, and the train split in two, half of it with the engines crossing the trestle, while the other half remained on the west side.  On account of the swift water in the Tug River, which was badly swollen, it took a good part of the day to get the bridge in commission so that the trains could go over.
    When No. 4 arrived in this city there was some kicking from the people who had to wait all day in the train without a chance to get anything to eat, except that which was served in the dining car and which many of the people could not afford.  Following No. 4 came No. 16 and it was carrying signals for train No. 2 which was directly behind.
    Passengers who went out on No. 15 and who returned last night stated that the wreck at Panther was a frightful one.  Seventeen coke cars were so badly smashed that it was only with the greatest difficulty that the wreckage could be cleared away.  Time after time as the wrecking crane grappled with a part of the car to which it had been attached, the part would give away and the whole performance had to be repeated.  The people, many of whom had never seen a wrecking crew at work before, were surprised at the amount of work that had to be done, and were even more surprised that such an amount of wreckage could be cleared away in such a comparatively short time.
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Gordon Hamilton
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