Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-07-06
DUEL OF TWO LOCOMOTIVES
Eifty-Ton Monsters of the Rail Are
Pitted Against Each Other
In Collision.

In spite of the too frequent railroad
accidents, especially collisions, which
occur in this country, the opportunity
is seldom Afforded to note just what oc-
ours at the time of impact when locomo-
tiyes come together. The witnesses of
such disasters, says the Scientific Amer
lean, are usually too excited over the
occurrence to observe the immediate ef-
fects of the shock and even IL mechan-
zeal experts able to observe intelligently
they have only chance to glance before
the force developed at the time of CON-
pact has expended itself.
For a mechanical duel" as 1t might
be termed, section of track 5000 feet
in length was recently laid on level
grade at Point of Pines, Mass. The loco
motives utilized were secured from a
railroad company which had discarded
this type for heavier equipment, but
they were not defective or disabled in
any respect except that their cabs had
been replaced. The weight Of each en-
CINE, including tender, was about 80
tons and they were modelled after the
same specifications, each having four
6O-inch driving wheels and four truck
wheels supporting the forward portion
of the boiler.
Prior to sending together steam was
generated for two hours and the engines
exercised" so to speak, by moving
them slowly up and down the track.
Finally the boilers were subjected to as
much steam pressure as the engineers
deemed safe and each machine was
backed to its end of the line. The en-
gineers took their places in the cabs
and at the signal arranged each opened
the throttle to the limit and pushed his
lever to the full speed mark. then leaped
to the ground.
One engine attained slightly greater
momentum than the other engine. Con-
seQuently the point of contact was not
midway bstween the terminals, but
about 200 feet distant. 1t was noted that
when they struck none Of the wheels of
one. engine was lifted from the rails.
The truck Of the other engine, however,
was forced above the track and the front
part lifted foot or two. The shock also
broke one of the steam pipes leading
into the cab. The cab Of one engine was
torn from its fastenings by the blow, al
though the other cab was uninjured. A
curious feature of the collision was that
after the first impact there appeared to
be rebound, the engine then closing up
again and the one engine slowly forcing
the other backward.
The locomotives remained IN motion
for about three minutes after the i'm
pact. the one being driven back nearly so
feet from the point where they came to-
gether. An examination showed that
its smokestack was torn away OF the
base and the front of the boiler broken
90 that the steam entirely escaped
through this vent and the pipe in the
rear In five minutes In both cases the
pilots were demolished as we'll as the
forward woodwork of all kinds. The
lantern standards, headlights and all OF
the lighter ironwork, including hand
rails, were broken and twisted beyond
repair The boiler of one engine was
also crushed In to such an extent that
the steam escaped. Neither OF the loco
motives, however, was derailed, al.
though the trucks were torn from their
supports and the piston rods and cylln-
ders dismounted as well.
Although the actual speed Of the en-
glnes at the time OF contact cannot be
calculated, the force was such that an
iron bar weighing rs pounds, detached
from one Of the pilots, was thrown $50
rect to one side of the track. and such
small pieces as bolts and nuts were
found as far away as 800 feet. When
the engines were started the whistle
valve Of each was opened. AS soon
as they met the shock shut OF the
whistle Of the one engine, but that Of
the other continued until steam had
been exhausted.