Turned Turtle

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While researching the articulated mallet engines the Virginian used in its early years I came across an expression that I've not seen before. In the Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, PA) of 11 Sep 1911, I found the following:


"One of the mammoth new engines constructed at the Baldwin Locomotive Works at Eddy-stone, which was being given a trial this morning, turned turtle on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad tracks beneath the Pennsylvania elevated railroad. The top portion of the caboose was badly dam-aged. Nobody was reported injured."


"Turned turtle ? ? ?" What does that mean? Could that be a roll-over, landing on its roof/top, like a turtle on its back and its legs uselessly flapping in the breeze while it slides on its shell? Or perhaps a train caving in on itself like a turtle pulls in its extremities? Has anyone encountered this expression somewhere else?


I am sure glad English is my native tongue.


Peter


The Rev. Peter R. R. Getz

Rockwall, Texas

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