F units

[NW Modeling List]

--- On Wed, 10/22/08, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:


> From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> Subject: Re: F units

> To: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org

> Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 8:27 AM

> In a message dated 10/21/2008 7:39:24 P.M. Eastern Daylight

> Time,  

> nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org writes:

> 

> Great  info. I can add that prior to the mid 1970s, hardly

> any ex-Wabash or 

> ex-NKP  units ever wandered onto "old" N&W

> rails (VA/WV) in mainline  service

> 

> 

> Maybe an exception, but on March 6, 1965, N&W had a

> head-on

> collision at the end of double track - MP 239 east of

> Montvale.

> No. 92 - Engs 1011-774-819-368 and 3473 -  had topped  Blue

> Ridge and was in the vicinity of Villamont when the crew

> realized that there was a brake problem.  An emergency 

> application had no effect.  Dispatcher R. E. Williams at

> Crewe had arranged to hold No. 92 at the end of double

> track

> to meet Extra 696 West.  As No. 92 approached the stop

> signal at 60 MPH, brakeman C. C. Cook positioned

> himself between the trailing unit, 3473, and the first car 

> in

> the train and parted the air hose, then opened the angle

> cock.  Only then did an emergency application occur, but

> it was too late and there was a side collision with Extra

> 696 West.  Although the crew thought they got a bona

> fide brake test at Shaffers Crossing, investigation

> revealed  that

> the angle cock on 3473 in the OPEN position would have 

> been

> in the CLOSED position for N&W units.

>                                               Harry Bundy

=====================================

Very cool info - thanks!

This is the first I've ever heard of a F unit on old VA/WV rails (I was secretly hoping a story would pop up!)

Mark Peele
Catonsville, MD