New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-14
NEW WRECK THEORY. |
OBSTACLE ON TRACK.
Centraps Officials Say High Speed
Wouldn't Spread Rails.

After a weeks adjournment the State Railroad
Commission yesterday resumed its investigation Of
the wreck Of the Brewster express at the Wood
lawn Road curve on February 16. Chief Engineer
Kittredge, of the New York Central. the first
witness. Questioned by Job E Hedges. who rep
resents Governor Hughes at the hearing. the official
said that in his opinion the wreck was caused by
some obstacle on the track that got between the
fange Of the wheel and the rail. and not by the
shearing of the spikes.
Eice-President Wilgus who is in charge of the
electrical zone on the Harlem division, followed
Mr.. Kttredge. and testified that nis theory of the
accident that the train was running at a high
rate of speed and struck the track at the curve
with great force, that some object dropped from
the equipment upon the track, or a combination of
both, caused the wreck He said that even If
train was going at speed of ninety miles an hour
the strength of the spikes would be sufficient to
keep the rails in place.
Mr.. Kittredse was asked about the "jolts" re-
ported by an engineer of electric train the
morning of the accident He replied that the speed
of the train would have TO be taken into consid-
Grafton 20 determine if they had any bearing on the
accident He testified that rails would not shear
off the spikes by becoming loose, they were
too heavy 10 be affected quickly in that way. He
said that practical tests of the proper elevations
Of rails At curves was the only safe method 10 be
followed ard that textbooks and theory not
to be depended without practical observation.
He declared that the curves the Harlem division
provided for a maximum speed of sixty to sixty
nine miles hour and that on all other roads
the elevations less than on the Central
In reply to a question by Mr.. Hedges the wit
ress said that he had never received any special
report regarding the safety OF the curves for
electrical locomotives
Wasn't il Your duty as chief engineer to see that
the curves were safe for passengers as well as
freight" asked AZ. Hedges.
Mr.. Kittredge answered that the curves were con-
sidered safe for both. but thar he had personal
knowledge OF the safety of the curves. He did not
think there would be any difference between the
electric and steam locomotives to safety in
rounding He admitted that the speed OF
the wrecked train might have been sixty miles an
hour, and added that he thought seventy miles an
hour safe on the curve.
Charles Barnes the electrical expert of the COM
mission, wanted TO know how the wheel could have
showed out the rail and then dropped upon the
ties. nine inches from the proper position Of the
rail. Mr.. Kittredge insisted that an obstruction
did IT
1t must have been nine inches square. then"
said NJ. Barnes
No it might have been a small object like a
bolt" replied the witness He said that the speed
Of the train would make some difference. and that
the marks on the tie indicated that the wheel had
struck 1t glancing blow. re admitted that there
Vice President wAgus. after giving his theory Of
rate Of speed would he likely TO ride over the
spread. He said he had suggested to the oper-
atng department that the experiments with the
electrical equipment should he carried on for three
months before any passengers were carried.
Mr.. Hedges asked why. in view Of these suggeS-
lions they had only been continued four days.
Mr.. Wilgus replied that he did not know. as the
equipment had been turned over to Manager Nc
CormacG. who was in authority over the operating
department.
At the suggestion Of Mr. Hedges the lawyers for
the New YORK Central promised to produce the let
tiers containing Mr. Wilgus's suggestions, TO be
made part of the commission : record.
George r Swain. professor Of civil engineering
in the Massachusetts School of Technology was
called expert ny the commission. and testi-
fed 70 experiments he had made regarding the
shearing strength of spikes. With train going
6z.5 miles hour. he said. the shearing strength
Of a spike would he about 1850 pounds and the
lateral pressure against the spike holding the rail
z,300 pounds.
The hearing adjourned subject 10 the call OF the
chairman.