The daily sentinel., 1906-08-06
SCENIC LIMITED
IS WRECKED
Fast Train Runs Into Open Switch
at CllftOn-Engine and Two
Cars Are Dilched.

Denver and Rio Grande train No.
TO- the 'Scenic Limited" east bound
from salt Lake City. met with an ac-
cident yesterday morning at an early
hour near Clifton station about four
miles east of the city.
The "Scenic Limited'' passed
through Grand Junction about sched-
uie time, 3:45 n. M. The train was
in charge Of Engineer George Cor
uon and Fireman Lee Allison, both
of this citv
Going at the rate of about forty
miles an hour the train came in sight
OF the Clifton station and just before
reaching the long switch at that sta
ton Engineer Gordon saw that IL had
Deen wrongly set at the west end and
uiu all in his power to stop the train,
but realizing that the engine was
pound TO strike the switch he crawl
cd on top the cab in an effort to save
himself. The engine made a wild
jump and went over n rather steep
chDankInent pulling with II two cars
Pullman and buffet car. The
engine fell ON its side, literally
TWO cars were lifted from their trucks
but were not turned over. on their
sides.
The passengers were badly shaken
up as result of the accident but
fortunately none of them were injur-
ed either seriously or painfully. Near
ly all were in their berths in the Pull
mans and great excitement prevailed
among them for a short time as prac-
tically although a terrible wreck had
taken place. They were quickly re
% aI . h.. -.
was not very dangerous one.
Engineer Gordon was painfully
scalded on one arm and one leg but
was not seriously hurt. Fireman AL
lison, 1t seems, was firing up at the
time of the accident but managed to
crawl out between the cab and ten
der as soon as the engine struck the
ground and was unhurt.
The railroad officials in this city
were notified and a crew of section
hands went up at once to the scene
of the accident. Track was torn up
for quite a distance and the way the
huge locomotive and cars We're laying
1t was seen that a shorty" track
would have to be built around the
wreck in order TO let the other trains
get by. as many hours would be re-
quired in moving the overturned en-
sine Tue lNO cars
No. the regular morning train
from the west, No. 104, the Colorado
Midland passenger train and the spec
ial train carrying the excursionists to
Glenwood Springs were held this
side of the wreck for hours. while
No. and l03 from the east arrived
about noon We're laid up for some
time at the wreck but ii was the east
bound trains that suffered the longest
delay.
The Pullmans and other coaches of
the Scenic Limited" that were not
damaged in the wreck were back
ed down to Grand Junction and given
new engine. The work of building
a track around the wreck was COM
pleted about 1890 O'Clock, the
of way, then No. 4. No. 104 and the
Glenwood special roadrace train
passed by. leaving Grand Junction
about six hours late. The trains from
the east then came into the city
No effort was made yesterday to
raise the great engine and the two
cars to the tracks but this work was
started this morning by "a wrecking
crew. The task of raising the engine
is of no little proportions. Train
men and porters on the two ditched /
cars renamed on guard all day yes
terday and last night. Scores of peo-
pie went out from the city yesterday |
afternoon to see the wreck The gi- |
gantic engine put out of business and |
thrown on its side is a sight that is |
very interesting.
The locomotive is said to be badly |
damaged while the cars are not so
badly hurt. The engine is one of
the largest and finest on the road
being of the latest pattern put on the
road and of extraordinary size.
1t Is estimated that the total dam