The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-06-29
South Carolina Railroad Commission
After Thorough investigation Of the
Wreck of the Ogden Special, Makes

Wreck of the Ogden Special, Makes
Report.
Columbia, S. c., Special. - The
Railroad Commission on Wednesday
filed their finding on the wreck
Vile on April 90. The finding goes
into the particulars in detailand makes
some rather drastic recommendations.
In addition to the regular finding
Commissioner Earle filed supple
mentary report on the wreck and
makes some additional findingse.
The commission says:
The yard engine and train engaged
in switching in the Greenville yards
was neither a second or third class
train, and the effect Of the train or
ders above mentioned was not to alter
the relations between it and extra en-
CINE 1910. as established by the rules
of the railroad company. We find the
rules of the railroad company make
all extra trains inferior to regular
trains Of whatever class. The rule of
the company which governed the train
in question on the day Of the accident
was as follows:
Yard limits are indicated by sign
boards reading Yard limits located
on either side of Spencer, Salisbury,
Charlotte, Spartanburg, Spartanburg
junction, Greenville, Toccoa, Lula,
Athens, Elberton. Armour and Atlanta
Switching and other engines and trains
may work within these limits without
regard to second class and inferior
trains, but must give way Immediately
upon their approach. Second class
and inferior trains must approach and
run through yard limits under full
control, expecting to find the main
track occupied. In case Of accident,
responsibility rests with approaching
train
From this it is apparent that as
according to the company's classifica-
tion of trains, which Is the usual clas-
sification on American railways, the
extra train of engine 1910 was inferior
in class, and for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning it's right on the road to Sec
ond class trains, it was its duty, In
approaching and running through
Greenville yard, to do so under full
CONTROL and expecting to find the
main track occupied 1t was right
under the rules for the switch engine
and train to work within the yard linn
it's without regard to approaching
second class or inferior trains, which
include extra trains, but they are re.
uuired to give way Immediately upon
their approach.
Under these rules the entire obli.
CATION Of safety rests upon the ap-
preaching train. and, in fact, the rule
explicitly states that in case OF accl-
dent. responsibility rest with approach
ing train
IF we take the rules to govern
train crew, we must decide from the
facts shown that the approaching eX'
ira train. in this case engine 1910, was,
in approaching and passing through
the Greenville yard limits, being run
In direct violation Of these rules. and
of being under full control was rum
ming from thirty-eight to forty miles
per hour. 1t appears from the evil
dence that the engineer and conductor
of this train had been furnished with
the rules in question had been examin-
ed on and knew them, but simply IN
action, at least, misinterpreted them.
HOLDS CREW responsible
THE conclusion. therefore. OF the
commission, is that the responsibility
for the accident rest primarily with
the crew of engine No. 1910"
The commission after stating that
the rules of the company are standard
says:
There is one point, however, that
the commission are not fully satisned
with, and that is when the operator
at Greenville received the last mes.
sage, that is that the Ogden special
was running forty minutes late, II ne
received it in time, and it seems from
the testimony that he did, he (the op-
orator at Greenville) should have
made every effort to convey this notice
to the yard crew. II this could nave
been successfully done, in all proDa.
bility this unfortunate accident could
have been averted.
1T appears that the tralnmen on
this special misunderstood their or
ders, and that they considered tnat
they were running a first-class train.
It further appears that the yard men
in Greenville regarded them as spe-
cial. and that they should have come
into the Greenville yard under control,
expecting the main track occupied. ~
appears that the train crews having
the safety and lives of the passengers
in charge are not sufficiently familiar
with their orders. and that railroad
companies should only employ men
for these position who are thorough
ly familiar with all orders, rules etc.,
concerning their work.
1T further appears that when SO
many trains are handled over a single
track, that in all such cases the rail-
roads should use the block system
and any other precautions that II Is
possible to use. 1t further appears
that there is not sufficient track room
in the Greenville yard. and that more
room should be given for the handllns
of the large amount Of business there.
"The commission recommended tnat
in cities like Spartanburg, GreenVllie'
Charleston, Columbia, and other clt-
les like these, that the railroad COM
panies should have an employe Tor the
purpose of delivering messages, tele,
grams. ETC., to the yardmaster and al
ward crews that may be in the yard
limits on duty, concerning all over,
due trains and the approach OF al
extra trains. s