Abingdon Branch

[NW Mailing List]

-----Original Message-----
From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Mon, Jun 17, 2013 10:12 am
Subject: Re: Abingdon Branch



Bob,
Could this be the boiler explosion that happened near Wytheville in 1955?  I have a copy of that report and will be putting elements of it on the Rural Retreat Depot Facebook page soon.

Frank:
The report on the 2153's explosion is missing from DOT's on line special collection.  There were
several interesting factors not shown in the report.
1-  The engine blew DOWN, not up.

2-  It helps if you've been there, but the incident happened almost in the front yard of a nearby
     house.  The explosion never woke the family.

3-  Portions of the TC panel in Roanoke went dark just as the dispatcher was contemplating a
     meet with No. 17.  R. R. McDaniel, formerly of the VGN, became head of N&W's Mechanical
     Department, but it was his dad, a signal maintainer, that the dispatcher called at Wytheville
     to investigate.  He put his motor car on at Wytheville and began checking the pole line.  That's
     when McDaniel and motor car dropped in the hole created by the blow-down.

NOTE:  Until about 1950,  crown sheet failures and explosions were investigated by the
            Locomotive Inspection Bureau, a division of the ICC that issued non-numbered reports.

            Not all accidents were investigated by the ICC.  In October, 1918, a double-header
            passed a "clear" approaching Bridge 5 in Norfolk.  The bridge tender then raised the
            draw and the train went into Eastern Branch.  Four fatalities.
                                                                                Harry Bundy

  
     
     
       



 
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