The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-03
EXPRESS TRAIN DERAILED.
BUsIwEss HEN ON THEIR War TO
LAKEWOOD SHAKEN UP.
while RanninR Firtosn MILES an Hour the 10"
eetsstive lamps y switch, ana, AFTER
PiouEhinE Up the Track, Topples over nnto
. Dttch-No One 1s serieusiy Hntured.

while Runnine Firtesn Miles m uour the Lee
eeusstive junps = switch, ana, AFTER
PiouEhinE Up the Track, Topples over 1nte
= h one IL Seriously unIured.
ELIZABETH, N. J., Dec. 2.-The Lakewood ex-
press on tho Central Railroad OF New Jersey was
derailed in this city at 400 this afternoon.
when the train was switched from the main line
tracks to those Of the Long Branch division the
locomotive jumped the switch, and after plung-
ing nifty feet along tho track toppled over on Its
left side. Passengers in tho train were thrown
from their seats by the violent shock, but, while
several were slightly bruised, none was seri-
ouBly injured. Tho engineer and fireman stuck
to their posts and escaped without 9 scratch.
One OF the cars Of the train was derailed, but 1t
did not turn over. Among the passengers were
q number of Democratic politicians bound for
Lakewood.
Tho Lakewood express leaves New York at
$40. and is intended especially for the accom-
mediation otbusiness mon who spend tho winter
at Lakewood. 1t is in charge OF Conductor
Daniel johnson. The run to Lakewood lie made
with but one stop, at Red Bank. and tho train In
due at its destination at $40. 1t is we'll patron
lied. and the usual number of patrons wero on
board this afternoon when the train pulled out
Of Jersey City at 3:51.
Tho train consisted OF n smoking car, one ordi-
nary coach. and two parlor cars, the latter in
inc rear. Az EllbHDetnpOTL tHt lTNlHb u Long
Branch, the sea.shore settlements. and other
south Jersey towns leave tho main limo Of the
Jersey Central, swinging around n sharp curve
to the tracks of the Long Branch division. The
crossover switches are controlled from a tower
and are Of the intcrlocking system. The trains
pass over two switches before they arc clear of
tho main line tracks.
Engineer Thomas Egbert was at tho throttle
Of locomotive "37," which hauled the Lakewood
Express. He says that when tho train reached
lclizabethport the cross-over switches were set
right for him. The locomotive took tho first
switch all right, and started to swing
around the curve, but when the front wheels
reached the second switch they jumped over the
rails and the locomotive started up tho east
bound freight track of the main line. humping
over the ties. After going about fifty feet, tear
in G up the track, the locomotive struck the rods
that operate the signal system and was turned
over on its left side. 1t plunged into q ditch be-
tween the tracks and ploughed q deep furrow in
Engineer Egbert shut Off steam and applied
the air brakes to the train the instant the en-.
o speed OF fifteen miles an hour and could not
be stopped at once. The tender OF the locomo-
smek Tas s sar, %Sic Up also aEls,nis ett sn The sh tEaef S az the the
switch.
speed Of the cars was checked 30 that they did
that left the track. The passengers in the
smoker received O severe shaking up. When
for about thirty feet, and then came SO suddenly
20 q stop that the passengers were thrown VIC
1cntly from their seats.
Several were playing cards, and these had the
board between them, and when the shock &C.
Cured some of them were. doubled up over the
board. The passengers in the coach wore thrown
forward. by the shock. md several ladies were
badly frightened; The passengers in tho parlor
cars escaped with a shaking, up.
Word OF tho wreck was telesraphed 70 Jersey
City and Superintendent w. Fl. Pebble was
quickly at the. scene. He had q special train
made up by 5 o'clock. and the passengers of the
and sent to their destination with as little
delay as, possible. The cause Of the wreck
possibility of the switch having been
s sssssm is sy se sfi SRfins.0tA It rn tho se wreck Il Il w sas
found that the points of the switch whore the
locomotive left tho track were spread. They
may have been allowed to operate when tho
locomotive wheel struck them by the breaking
by the wrenching Of the immense driving
wheels of the locomotive after the front wheels
had left the track.
II is possible that a stone lodged against tho
Of the railroad men think that is the cause Of
the wreck. Others believe the switch broke.
The wreck tore up the east-bound freight
track. on the main line and the west
Branch division, and as the affair occurred
at the busiest hour of traffic many trains were
considerably delayed. The Blue Line express,
which followed the Lakewood express at a dis
aroundfthe wreck. The wreck will not be cleared
entirely away before morning.