El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-10-22
A DEFECTIVE RAIL
CAUSED c. 4.
WRECK
of Rail Prior to
Accident Would Not
Have Disclosed
Defect.

The board of inquiry appointed by
general manager w. G. Van Week, OF
the G. H, to inquire into the cause
Of the derailment of G. H. passenger
train No. 9 Monday morning at $40
o'clock while coming into FL Paso. has
rendered the following report:
The board was composed of the fol-
lowing persons:
W. G. Van Week, manager. Houston
G. S Waid, superintendent, Ell Paso; R.
NJ. Hoover, assistant superintendent;
D. W. Fitzgerald. assistant superinten-
dent; c. r. Morrill, assistant superin-
tendent; o. c. Taylor, supervisor build
ing and bridges; W. Russell, foreman
car repairs; P. E. Kelly. roadmaster;
H. w. Vaunchelet.- general manager
Lobo Land & Irrigation Co., Lobo, Tex.
Train No. 9, consisting of engine 291,
mail car, baggage car, colored com
partment car, two swing coaches.
chair car, three tourist sleepers, dining
car, two standard sleepers and obser-
walton car, thirteen in all. In charge
of conductor Merriman and engineer
Hobein, was derailed two miles west
of Collado at 500 a. m, October II,
1910.
Engine Not DeraiIed.
Engine and mail car were not in
volved in derailment. The first car TO
leave the track was baggage car. This
car left the track on inside of curve,
and was followed by colored compart-
ment car which had front trucks de-
rallied, both of these cars being nearly
overturned. Next after these cars were
two swing coaches, chair car and one
tourist car which remained on the
track coupled together. The second
tourist car was derailed, but remained
upright on ties and uncoupled from
other cars. The third tourist car was
derailed and turned over on its side.
The dining car and two standard sleep
ers eft track and remained in upright
position in ditch some distance from
track. Observation car had all but the
rear pair of wheels derailed, but re-
manned upright on track. The distance
covered by derailment was 1886 feet,
being from point of derailment to place
where baggage car stopped. All de-
rallied cars left track on inside of
curve, outside rail being unbroken and
without damage.
Where 1t Happened.
Derailment occurred at mile post
7e5h on a two degree and 80 minute
curve to right, grade % percent de-
scen6ing. Track was laid with Car
negie 75-pOund rail made in December,
1893, and laid in track in March. 1900
rail still being in good condition.
Track at this point was earth ballast
ed. ties in good condition, being fully
tie plated with Q. & c. intermediate
and Servis joint tie plates. Gage al
point Of derailment was feet inch
es, and elevation q inches; track was
in good line and surface
Interior of Rail Defective.
Examination as to cause of derail-
ment shows it to have been due to a
break in rail which occurred Is feet Z
inches beyond joint, and for balance
of distance of rail it had very extern
sive pipe defect which could not have
been discovered by any amount of SUI
perficial examination. This pipe de-
feet extended downward through the
center of ball of rail to upper part of
web. which was also defective in being
piped This rail did not show any
signs of flange wear and was not flat
tened on top. and in fact was no differ
ent from other rails in same vicinity,
all being in good condition Investiga-
ton as TO speed of train at time of ac-
cident shows it to have been 80 to 35
miles per hour.
In the opinion of the board the acct
dent was unavoidable, as no amount
of inspection would have detected the
flaw in rail previous to its failure.
W. G. Van Week
q. s. Waid.
r. NJ Hoover
D. ". Fitzgerald.
c. r. Morrill,.
O. C. Taylor.
W. Russell.
p f. Kelly.
II. W. Vaunchelet-