Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-23
A SWITCH-ROD BREAKS
And Causes Engine and Cars to take Dii-
ferent Tracks.
A Close Shave Near the Station, Satur-
day Afternoon

People who travel our railroads and are
more or less about passenger stations get
used 10 great many sights that are common
to the shifting, backing and filling of trains.
In truth they take little notice of these train
movements; but the strange sight presented
by a complete passenger train, rolling into
and past the station, without engine or any
motive power visible, is somewhat startling,
to say the least. Such sight was witnessed
by the crowds of waiting travellers and car
ragc drivers at the Augusta station, Satur-
day afternoon
Jewett's train had passed ON time and all
right, and the afternoon Boston Express.
known as No. II, was due 1t had whistled
and those waiting in the station, passed out to
the platform; but scarcely had they come out
of doors before two more short, sharp whistles
were head, followed Immediately by still two
more, and the train came around the curve
back of Granite Hall, and shot past the sta
ton, engine-less. The engine which had APP
peared in sight when the train first came into
view. was seen standing on the outer and by
the way, its customary track. Then the fact
that the train had passed on the inside track
suddenly flashed through the minds of all
and the first surprise was increased and deep
ened into alarm. Looking first at the train
and then at the locomotive, the crowd for
moment seemed to hesitate, but percieying
that the engine appeared helpless, it made a
rush down the track toward the engine which
was enveloped in a cloud of steam.
/ The journal man was among the first to
arrive there ami, passing to the rear of the
/ locomotive discovered the absence of its ten
der. Thinking that more was to be seen, he
still passed on and found the tender several
rods from the engine reversed end for end,
tipped completely over and in most dcmor-
allied condition. All about it was pool of
water, blackened by the coal dust, and, here
and there large pieces of ice and snow ,plowed
up by some tremendous force. The trucks
and running gear Of the tender were exposed
TO view and presented a most broken up'con-
dition, which was enhanced by the twisted and
beat pipes that connected the tender to the
engine. The track, too, was in a very dam
aged condition, the rails being broken and
bent, and somewhat routed from their firm
bed Of ice.
The scribe found the brakeman Of the train
and from him gained the following facts
We were coming round the curve and were
most to Water street crossing, when heard
the whistle for brakes down" Before could
obey, heard it again. / sprang to the for
ward brake Of the car was in and set it bard
and then ran to the rear. Before / had
turned, however, felt succession Of jar,
which knew was caused by the trucks run
ming over the sleepers. / set the secont
brake and the one opposite, / think. | hard
ly knew where we were, or what was to be
come Of the train till We run off the uppe
switch above the freight depot. The trair
was slowed down very much then.
Going back to the switch the Journa
man found one of the workmen Of ths
round house and from him gainec
such information as to the probable cause Of
the accident that he could give II seems tina
the switch was not properly spiked down, tbs
irons on either foot on the inside, beinj
broken, SO that the spike not enclosed
by the foot in other words, the foot wa
broken off at the spike holes, thus failing t.
i, give the switch its proper fastening. Tn
weight Of engine as il came around the cury
: probably strained the rails and thus exerte
, a tremendous force on the switch bar or ro'
which communicated to the switch itself in il
, unstable condition, lifted it, breaking tn
switch red at the elbow. The rod, unfaster
ed left the rails lose. The engine itself pas Sc
to the outside track but by a springing of til
lose rails the tender and cars were directe
and went onto the inside track. The tw
+ tracks separated and the tender, being pulle
0 harder and harder, finally broke from Ii