South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-01-26
AAThrough Train.

another train Il right angles with itself,
was strikingly illustrated on the Hudson
River Railroad, near Cold Spring, on
the morning of :he 5th inst. A railway
collision has been defined as an unsuc.
cessful attempt OF two trains to pass one
another on the same track But, in this
account from the Newburgh Journal,
we learn the possibilities Of trains pass.
ing through one another when going at
proper rates Of speed and OIL tracks care
fully arranged for the purpose:
"The st. Louis express. which was
due in New York at 10 80 o'clock on
Friday morning. did not reach its des-
tina,ion till nearly five o'clock in the
afternoon. About quarter Of mile
this side of Cold Spring. on the Hudson
River Railroad, the West Point Fonndr
has track running To its dock Oh the
river and crossing the main line almost
at right angles. At the moment the cx.
press came round the curve in the Cold
Spring cutting, dummy engine was
backing two freight cars and platform
ing omitted to 30 back TO the curve and
stop the approaching train. lie says
that, seeing the train approach without
warning from the depot. he called to the
engineer of the dummy engine of the
freight train. TO go ahead
The engineer. who says he did not
hear this order. instead of going ahead.
| backed lis carr, aud the express dashed
! clean through them at the speed of for
ty.two miles an hour. according TO the
estimate OF the employees on the train
The engineer of the express first caught
sight of the freight cars Mt a distance of
about ons ,lundrst4aa. NGfty yards from
tho crossing. lie Immediately whistled
down brakes and pulled violently at
the cord running through the cars an |
connecting with the patent Creamer
brakes. Tie passengers on the train,
seventy nino in all, were at once u.
larmcd.
"Thc next moment the engineer, hav.
ing reversed his engine. threw himself
into the snow.bank. and the express train
went through the freight train like a can.
non shot - not coming to a stop till it
WAS on the trestle bridge two hundred
! and ti(ty yards away. a terrible dsas.
ter was only escaped by miracle. The
engine happened To strike car Of the
barely.moying freight train right in he
middle. carrying he'd beam and splint-
ers of the wreck along with it, but driv-
ing the wheel-trucks on either side of
the track. and thus enabling the cars,
none OF which left the rails. TO pass
through the wreck without injury.
"rhe fireman stood manfully at his
post and shut Off the steam. and thus OBJ
Waited the chance OF the bursting Of the
boiler. The front of the engine, the
COW catcher, head lights. smoke stack,
sand chest. and one of the steam cylin.
ders were broken; but otherwise the
train was uninjured. and the passengers
| escaped with n shaking no. Had the
speed of the train been less. and had the
engine struck truck instead of the
body Of the car. serious loss of life
would in all probability have ensued.
About year ago precisely similar
accident. with the same lucky escape of
the pass engers. occurred at this cross
ing. 1t is n very dangerous one for all
trains coming east, unless it is very care
fully tagged and signallcd."