New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-07
KNEW OF ROUGH TRACK
Engineer Had Reported Trouble at
Fatal U'OodIazCn Curre.

The State Railroad Commission resumed its in
vestgation yesterday into the wreck OF the Brews-
ter express near the Woodawn Road bridge
February l6 Job Z. Hedges. who represents Gov
ernor Hughes the hearing examined the wit
nesses. The testimony was chiefly to the con-
dition OF the track at the curve where the wreck
occurred and the method of inspection in vogue on
the Harlem division of the road.
The first witness was Louis Biehl. engineer on
the New York Central He testified that on the morn
ing of the accident he electric train north
from the Grand Central Station, and that near the
beginning Of the Woodlawn Road bridge he noticed
n Jolt or jar Of the locomotive from left to right
1T was what I would call a rough piece of track
he said. The witness testified that he reported the
condition of the track by telegraph from Wake
field 20 the officials at the Grand Central Station
The report introduced and read: ION track
3. north OF Bronx Park, near curve. track very
rough. Needs attention"
BiehI said he had not written the message him
self, but had asked the yardmaster 10 send II for
him, and that he did not recolect having used the
word very" He said that he passed the curve
again later in the day and had not noticed any
unusual roughness, but on this occasion he had
reduced speed slightly he took the curve.
H. S. Ballet, engineer of maintenance Of way.
testified that he had received BiehIs dispatch and
that indicated that the track required immediate
attention eDut not that the of the track should
necessarily be suspended He said that IL two or
three such reports regarding a particular section
of track were received from engineers, the track
would doubtless be put out OF service pending an
investigation.
Miles Bronson, superintendent Of the Harlem d.
vision was the next witness He declared that
engineers frequently made reports similar TO Biehs
in regard 10 tracks and that while all were given
attention in q routine way, only such reports as
seemed of special moment in the judgment of the
railroad officials. received immediate and personal
inspection. Necessarily, he said. some judgment
was used III handling reports on all branches or
the road This was in reply to a question by Mr.
Hedges az 70 the actual Importance attached by
tie officials TO u reports Of rough tracks by
Mr. Bronson said further that he understood the
track referred III Engineer Behl's dispatch had
been examined the day az the wreck.
Orlando " Eggleston who said he was the
engineer in charge OF the track inspection on the
Harlem division, told the commission that ne had
noticed some uneasineSs of the track while
riding around the WoOdlawn Road curve the day
sage on February l6. he directed the general fore
man OF the division TO Investigate the trouble. MI
Egeleston also said that he still believed a single
spike a tie sufficient at curve. although since
the accident the track had been reinforced. both
a the Woodawn Road curve and other points on
the road.
The division foreman then testified that he had
inspected the track AZ the Woodlawn Road curve
AZ C o'clock on the evening OF the wreck ana
found everything in gOoc condition.
p The last witness Francis Boardman. DIVISION
engineer Of the electrical division. lie testified
10 the inspection system the Harlem division
saying that there two inspections of the track
daily, and since the wreck night examination az
well
The commission then adjourned without setting
definite day for continuing the investigation,
but Il said that il would hear additional testi-
mony in few days.