New-York tribune., 1901-07-19
TROLLEY CREW TO BLAME
REPORT OF THE STATE BOARD OF RAIL
ROAD COMMISSIONERS ON EAST
GREENBUSH COLLISION.
[sr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !

lBY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBuNE.1
Albany. July 1s.-The Board Of Railroad Com
ndssoners made public to-day the result of an in
vestigation made by of their number Com
missioner Frank NJ. Baker. and Charles R Barnes
their electrical expert. into the circumstances at
tending the accident the Albany and Hudson
Railway. the third rail- surface railroad between
Albany and Hudson. on May 2s when FIVE persons
were killed and over eighty were injured 1t was
a head-on collision, and both OF the motormen
in control of the coIding Frank NJ. Smith
and William Nicholas. killed.
There has been great public interest shown in
investigation. since there is such a rapid growth
of electrical lines of railway in this State that
their safe management is a matter Of the highest
Importance 1t was undoubtedly in order TO learn
personally the method of administration of the
Albany and Hudson Railroad that Railroad Com
missioner Baker investigated the accident in COM
pany with Electrician Barnes. Mr.. Barnes in his
report says:
MOTORMAN WAS TO BLAME
This collision caused by Mosorrnan Smith. Of
Car No. 34 No. %. not stopping siding
No So where he should have No. 80.
run No is. While he was responsible for this acct
dent Conductor Charles T. Johnson, under the
rules of the company was in measure equally
responsible. The instructions TO passenger con-
ductors in the book OF rules read: They will have
charge of the trains which they will be assigned
and OF all the persons employed thereon. and will
be held responsible when the road for the proper
care and comfort of the passengers. and for
the safe and prompt of their trains, and
from the time they come duty until the train
is off the main track at terminal station
less regularly relieved they will be responsible for
the protection of their trains
The switches siding No 50 all times
set for the main track. These spring point
throw switches As will be seen from the state
ments of the two conductors it IS customary for
the first car arriving at meeting station 10 take
the siding The tangent leading TO siding No. So
from the north is a7SO feet long. and uuob-
structed view of this siding be had for that
distance
SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON LOOKOUT
Conductor Johnson should have been on the look
out TO whether No. Ss OF run No. 10 was on
the siding or not. and if it not he should have
been prepared to go ahead and throw the switch
the north end Of the turnout allow his
motorman to take the siding and should not only
also to whethe- car No. Ss, run No. ~, If IL
was on the siding, was carrying signals or not.
Had he been the lookout approaching the north
end of the switch. and his motorman did not slow
the north point, Of the. switch, his car would then
accident Ths running at fortv niles an - hour
would have raken 154 seconds. providing that the
probable Motorman Smith had forgotten about his
meeting run No 10 at this siding and had been
reminded OF it by the signal on the bell at the
medately applied his emergency afr, and in this
occurred.
MANAGEMENT GOOD. WITH ONE EXCEPTION
This accident was entirely due to Motorman
Smith and Conductor Johnson. OF car No g. run
No. o. and we find the management and method
of operation OF this road, with reference safety
of passengers with single exception TO be first
class in every respect. This exception is in the
manner in which train orders are handed What
/ trains on this road. 1t is not necessary for a
J motorman conductor receiving OF these
1 orders to sign copy OF II. which is repeated TO
! the train dispatcher with the signature Of the
| conductor and motorrnan attached A serious ac-
| cident may result from the of this form or
| order. As will be oy the statement of Con-
| at Rensselaer, to meet run No los at East Green
bush sub-station. This order was delivered to an
| extra conductor. who ran the car from Albany TO
| Rensselaer, johnson not receiving a copy OF the
order. but told by the extra conductor tnat
| such an order had been received. To add to the
element OF safety in the operation OF this road
would make the following recommendations:
CONTROL OF CARS FROM REAR ADVISED.
THAT all Important orders governing the move
| ment or trans should blank form No.
81; that the cars Of this company be equipped with
| some means to enable the conductor 10 shut OF
the current and apply the air brake from the rear
Secretary Kenyon OF the Railroad Commission
has sent this report 70 A c. salisbury the second
vice president of the Albany and Hudson Railway
| and Power Company. with the following statement:
The recommendations OF the electrical expert are
hereby made the recommended atons OF this board.
VIII you please inform this board at your early
| convenience II the company will comply with
| Electrician Barnes also submitted a report on an
accident the Syracuse. Lakeside and BaldwtnS-
J vile Railroad. June s. when forty people were
after describing the accident, recommended that
stop sign be placed at the top OF The grade near
that the motorman receive two bells from the con-
ductor before going down the grade, and that
| equipment be made The Railroad Commission also
| makes this recommendation