Evening star., 1953-01-23
New Brake Incident
Brings Precautions
Against Tampering
Senate Probers Split
On Sabotage as Cause
Of Wreck at Station

Jittery railroad officials were
taking extra precautions today to
make sure there is no tampering
with train brakes, as investiga-
tions of the Union Station crash
continued.
Senator Tobey, Republican, of
New Hampshire startled specta-
tors at a hearing concluded yes
terday by the Senate Commerce
Committee he heads, when he
revealed the Colonial Express
out Of Boston Wednesday devel-
oped brake trouble also. Lack
Of brakes caused the Union Sta
ton crash.
When Senator Tobey revealed
this new incident yesterday. a
Star reporter Inisir1terpreted his
remarks to mean that he was
on the train. Senator Tobey was
not on the train.
Reveals New Incident.
The official record shows that,
in questioning E. r. Brumley,
attorney for the New Haven
Railroad, he said:
"It is a fact. is it not, that
yesterday on the New Haven
Railroad. the Colonial Express
-. developed brake trouble. !. &.
] can make q definite statement
that the same thing happened on
the New Haven Railroad yester-
day with the Colonial Express.
A brake valve didn't function
and the same thing developed as
with this train down here.
Later. Paul r. Goulett. vice
president Of the New York. New
Haven & Hartford Railroad,
confirmed that the air brake syS-
tenn Of the Colonial Express was
discovered cut of as the train
started to leave New Haven,
Conn.
Examination Of the wreckage
OF the Federal Limited, which
smashed Union Station q. last
week, revealed the airbrake SyS-
tenn also had been cut of.
FBI and ICC Probe Cause.
Whether this was a result Of
sabotage or careleSSness by rail-
readers was left up to the FBI
and the Interstate Commerce
Commission Both ere investi-
eating the Union Station dis
aSter also.
Mr.. Goulett said the FBI was
notified Immediately of the sit
uation discovered on the Colo
nial on Wednesday In New Ha-
ven. The cars on the wrecked
train also belonged to the New
Haven Railroad. although It was
q Pennsylvania Railroad train.
A. Pennsylvania Railroad
spokesman said it took over the
Colonial in New York and re-
ceived Q report Of the trouble
from the New Haven line. A
close check was made at that
time, but the brake system was
all right. he added.
He Suspects Sabotage.
The Senate Committee hear
ings ended abruptly when Sena-
tor Tobey said the entire record
will be turned over to the FBI
for Investigation Of sabotage. He
commented:
7 think somebody monkeyed
with the brakes"
The Pennsylvania Railroad
would not comment officially ON
the extra precautions being TAX
en-. But one Official said the rail-
road was double checking brakes
on all trains ct all stops.
In addition, this oficial said,
special men have been assigned
to watch trains stopped in sta
tionS to make sure no one tamp-
ers with the brake system.
A New Haven railroad official
also said the company is taking
extra precautions. He admitted
the railroad was worried about
the possibility the brakes in both
instances had been disconnected
deliberately.
Not all the Senators attending
the hearing felt sabotage was the
answer to the causes of the
wreck.
Senator Pastore. Democrat, Of