The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-06
A COLLISION IN THE AIR.
ENGINEER DEL INI'S LOCOMOTIVE RUNS
orr 4 SWTTCH.
What Caused the Detention of Trains ON the
metropolitan Elevated Railroad on the
FIRST Dny-Tyo Versions of the Mtshnp.

metropolitan Elevated Railroad on the
First Day-Two Versions OF the Mishap.
The name of the Gilbert Elevated Railroad
was changed to the Metropolitan Elevated Rail
road yesterday and the first regular train
started from Rector street at 8 A. VI. Following
1t every five minutes went similar trains. and at
each of the seventeen stations on the route were
many persons eager to ride in tho handsome
cars. No schedule has yet been posted. but
from yesterdays work 1t would appear that
the way trains will run from Rector street
to Fiity-ninth street in twcnty-seven minutes.
and tho through trains in % minutes. Tho
directors Of the road complimcnted Mr.. George
NJ. Pullman by placing special train at his
disposal yesterday morning to convey him
down town on his way to the Scythia, on which
he sailed for Europe.
1oclo"k. when the throngs at the lower sta
tiOns ascertained that something was wrong.
as no trains came from above. and those
going the other way were only crawling along
At 800 j. NJ. Engineer Delany ran his train
over the automatic brake at flity-scNentl street.
stopping nt the last station low seconds ater,
ward. His two cars were quickly cmItlcd. ana
ms quickly filled by lu9ilani pqassrngors. In the
ran up to the switch GO feet away. backed down.
and soon was fastnod TO his cars TO
run them down. The cars werc standing
on the eastern truck on which thoy went
up. Between II and the western track
down one-there Is third track used Tor
SWtrllnk. Inc main SWITCH M iilnt emu u I'M
mediately over Fiity-sovanth street. On the
western track. bctwecn Fiuy-siNth street and
Fiity-ninth street We're about twenty cars s
not as yet in use. After striking the middle
track and passing the main switch the train
proceeds down "A little below Fiity-siNth street.
whore minor switch guides 1t to the western
track. The main switch was not IN use because
the twenty cars wore there. All the switches
arc automatic. When Engineer Delany. going
up. passed the main switch he threw 1t open. us
should be. and a. IL was not in use. OF course
some one should have been in attendance, to
close 1t. As soon rs lie had attached his
locomotive To the cars, and the signal had been
given. he started. The main switch had not
been closed. lie plunged into it. A, harsh
noise. as of heavy. dull. grating of rough iron
edges together was followed by Ioltng. first
easy and then jerky. with finally a dun ihud
which shook the massive iron track displaced the
the passengers and the train came To "a sudden
stand still. Tho cars on the western track had
broken its course To the pavement below. After
entering the open main switch tho locomotive
led the way OF the track. The distance between
the spot whore II struck the cars and the edge
of the track Is about nine iert II the cars had
not been IN the way the locomotive would have
gone on and over, ~ no side rail- II there. The
locomotive dove between two OF tho cars which
were battered 10 splinters on the corners Whcre
the locomotive struck. The lower ear hud It's
iron railings bent its platform torn 10 pieces.
and the corner bulged in. Even the brake was
distorted. The upper ear had its platform torn
up. iron gateway and part Of the railings de-
stroyed aud corner splntered. The locomotive
WAS not damaged very much. II weighs nine
tons. and each of the ears weigh six tons.
The passenger cars were detached and run
~
motive in hand. Word was sent down the track.
and ~ once every train lessened it, speed. In
forty five minutes the locomotive was righted.
but in the mean time all the trains were run on
To- the western trnck. No train arrived ut the
Fiity-eighth street depot until 5i.. two hours
after the accident.
Mr. Litchlleld. the superintendent Of the up
per division said that. after the train arrived.
Engineer Dcluny WIS running his engine down
10 attach II tO his cars when II alone entered tho
open switch and ran of. Two or three switch
men are there he said. but no blame could be
attached 10 any OF them. He said that the cause
slipped half an inch on the shifting rod. The
rod II hu inch AMI a hhlf IN diar."t"v. He had
the nut tightened. and everything WAS all right.
General Superintendent Van BOkclrn said.
when Mr.. Iitrhncld'S version had been told,
" You take 1t Just rs give II To- You and youll
get il straight. litchfed don't know what h,s
talking about Hes no railroad man. The ac-
cdent was caused through the internal negi-
gcnce Of the swtchman, Trapp. who wasn't
there to attend 10 his duty. Hes hecn d.s-
charged. ANA the same Incident won't occur
again" A locomotive. with two cars. ran on,
he said thereby cOntradictlng Mr. Itchileld.
IL would be impossible 10 say how n.guy avail
ed themselves Of the Gilbert Elevate NYai yes
tcrday. hut from the enormous pile oi tickets re-
turned to the general office last evening ~ cato
men. II is estimated tnat there We're nearly
10000 passengers.
4 large party OF ladies' and gentlemen took
down train last evening. Just Tor iuu, eNp"N-
ing. of course. 10 return. but whcn they arrived
NJ Rector street they learned that the last train
had already gone up town. Superintendent
ordered another train 10 convey them up town.