The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-08-31
NORTH ANSON COLLISION
Public Utilities Commission Makes
Decision

Failure of observance of the rules
Of the road is given by the Public
Utilities commission as the reason for
the rear end collision on the track of
the Maine Central Railroad Co. at
North Arson on July % at 1.47 p m,
in the report handed down. The
text of the finding is as follows:
Extra freight No 36s ran into the
rear of extra No 1863, serving as a
wrccking train on track of Maine
Central Railroad Co. at North Arson
Sunday. July IS, 1916. at LII y. m.
No person was injured and the prop
.crty loss WAS slight
Extra No. 3Gs left Oakland for
North Arson at a. m, 10 replace
some cars on the track This was
done and at about lbs p. m. the train
was backed 10 the station to get or
ders to return 10 Oakland The OPP
.crator being absent FlaEman A. l..
Rober was sent out 10 protect the
train while the operator was being
found
East Of North Arson station Is a
sharp curve for about 1900 feet; then
a straight line 1887 feet then a
slight curve 10 the yard limit sign
which is about 3l00 feet from the sta
ton Robcr states that he went
around a curve and put a torpedo on
the track: then a second about 100
feet farther along. and sat down on
the end of tie and waited, being
able to see an approaching train
about one-half miles away.
When he heard the whistle of No.
3Gs he stood up and waved red flag.
lie observed that the trainman did
not see him. picked up the second
torpedo and started along to meet
the train. When he had gone some
50 or - feet. and was within 500 or
500 feet of the approaching train, his
signal was answered; and the train
went by him at 20 to 25 miles an
hour. he thinks
The point at which the first torpe-
do was placed is 924 feet from the
station and about 247 feet short of
the end of the curve. From the To-
cation of the second torpedo, 100
feet further along, one had a clear
view of an approaching train for 1000
feet, but was himself so Obscured by
the side of the cut that the trainman
could not readily see him.
The cnEincmen and fireman of No
3GS claim that they were going at
seven or eight miles an hour when
they first saw the fagman and that
he WAS then about 200 feet ahead of
them. The brakes were Immediate
~ applied in emergency, but results
were somewhat impeded because they
had Just been released after making
a reduction.
The nagman was about 1924 feet
from the station when he first under
took to flag No 36S. No 363 con-
sisted of an engine, a passenger car,
box car and two fiat cars. AT least
some part of this train was probably
bark of the station and should be de
Quoted from the distance which he
was protecting his train
II appears that the brakes Of No,
3GS were in good order; that they
were thrown into emergency rs soon
as the flag was seen and before il
was reached that the train was not
travelling at an excessive rate OF
speed Except as affected by the rule
below and that there was
an insufficient time after il was sig
nailed to bring II to a stop The
natural conclusion seems to be that
the nagman had not gone back suf-
hcient distance to protect his train.
A rule of the Maine Central Rail
road Co. required that No. 36S should
have been run within the yard limits
at such Il speed that it could have
been stopped if the track was not
clear. This is independent of the
tagging rule. and would not excuse
IL short tagging, because if the train
was to be protected by a flag 1t
should have been done on the theory
that the flag itself WAS the trains
protection.
On the other hand, il was the duty
of No 3GS to observe the rule govern
ing it without placing any reliance
upon the protection that any train
ahead of it might or should exercise.
Our observation has been that crews
under these circumstances are prone
10 rely upon what others are expect
ed to do to the extent of shading the
of this salutary rule. They
ought strictly to adhere to the letter
of the rule. Failure to do SO in this
instance resulted in what might cas-
lily have been more serious acct
dent
Each precauton should be eXercls-
ed as though it were the only one
to be relied upon, and if the ilagman
had gone back Il sufficient distance.
or if No. 3GS had been observing the
yard limit rule for its class there
would have been no collision.