Local attention: Local newspaper reporters were waiting for Moyer at the train station
in York once he got home from the crash. The wreck was still under investigation, and
he could not talk about it, but photographers snapped a picture of him in his navy
peacoat -- he's saved the clippings.
Though one paper said he was pale and "showing traces of shock," Moyer said he'd
napped on the train and was just happy to back in York, where his wife, Betty, met him
at the station.
Meanwhile, Union Station left the GG-1 in the basement and set up a temporary
platform on top of it to accommodate the crowds coming to Washington for President
Dwight D. Eisenhower's inauguration.
Eventually, the engine was cut into three pieces and taken to Altoona for repair, where
it was reassembled. Moyer's son-in-law, Bob Martin of Manchester Township, has a
in York once he got home from the crash. The wreck was still under investigation, and
he could not talk about it, but photographers snapped a picture of him in his navy
peacoat -- he's saved the clippings.
Though one paper said he was pale and "showing traces of shock," Moyer said he'd
napped on the train and was just happy to back in York, where his wife, Betty, met him
at the station.
Meanwhile, Union Station left the GG-1 in the basement and set up a temporary
platform on top of it to accommodate the crowds coming to Washington for President
Dwight D. Eisenhower's inauguration.
Eventually, the engine was cut into three pieces and taken to Altoona for repair, where
it was reassembled. Moyer's son-in-law, Bob Martin of Manchester Township, has a
The 16-car passenger train had brake problems after it left Boston earlier in its route,
but no one told the new engine crew that came on shortly afterward, and a routine
brake test did not turn up any problems.
Engineer Harry Bower and Moyer, who was working as the engine's fireman, had no
sign of trouble until Bower applied the brakes a few miles from Union Station and saw
they did little to stop the train.
Later investigations found that an angle cock valve had closed the air brake to the last
13 cars, which pushed the train forward as they rolled unchecked.
But all Moyer knew was that the emergency brake valve that should have been full of
air pressure fell open without resistance, signaling a lack of pressure in the system.
"When it did that, I knew we were sunk," Moyer said. "That meant no brakes."
but no one told the new engine crew that came on shortly afterward, and a routine
brake test did not turn up any problems.
Engineer Harry Bower and Moyer, who was working as the engine's fireman, had no
sign of trouble until Bower applied the brakes a few miles from Union Station and saw
they did little to stop the train.
Later investigations found that an angle cock valve had closed the air brake to the last
13 cars, which pushed the train forward as they rolled unchecked.
But all Moyer knew was that the emergency brake valve that should have been full of
air pressure fell open without resistance, signaling a lack of pressure in the system.
"When it did that, I knew we were sunk," Moyer said. "That meant no brakes."
| ********** |
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| If you have a picture you'd like us to feature a picture in a future quiz, please email it to us at CFitzp@aol.com. If we use it, you will receive a free analysis of your picture. You will also receive a free Forensic Genealogy CD or a 10% discount towards the purchase of the Forensic Genealogy book. |
| Quiz #181 Results |
 |  |  |  |
| Answers to Quiz #181: 1. Union Station, Washington, DC, January 15, 1953 2. Faulty air brakes 3. Two cars were removed, the locomotive was allowed to remain in the baggage area where it landed, and it was "covered up" with a temporary wooden floor until after Eisenhower's inaguration a few days later. |
| Answer to Quiz #181 - October 26, 2008 |
| ********** |
| This accident occurred several days before a Presidential inauguration. 1. Where did it occur? 2. What was the cause? 3. How was the accident covered up? |
| ********** |
| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our books! Click here. |
| The idea for this quiz was submitted by Barbara Battles. |
| Congratulations to Our Winners! >> Jina Yi, Mr. Rick's Quiz Angel << Kathy Storm Bill Utterback Don Draper Evan Hindman Anna Farris Lois Carr Christopher Tennant Karen Kay Bunting Fred Stuart Jim Kiser Carol Darrow Diane Burkett Stan Read Beth Long Brian Kemp Gary Sterne Jessica Gagnon Audrey Speelman Judy Pfaff Marilyn Hamill Carolyn Cornelius Sandy Thompson Rex Cornelius Joshua Kreitzer Harold Clupper Alan Cullinan Debbie Sterbinsky Mike Dalton Elaine C. Hebert Leslie Shapard Robert E. McKenna Celia Tomlin Dave Doucette Gina Hudson |
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| Comments from Our Readers |
This was quite challenging for me. I did not remember reading about the incident.
Searching for train accident photos during years of inaugural addresses proved
unproductive. I finally figured that if it had anything to do with the "inaugural" it may
have occurred in Washington. Searches for Union Station accidents gave me the
answers. Don Draper
*****
Pretty cool huh! Just an example of government cover ups! Debbie Sterbinsky
*****
Way to go Jina!!! Didn't even have to drag her off YouTube to research this one!
"Mr. Rick"
*****
I recognized Union Station immediately. I have been there about a zillion times and had
never read anything about this accident. I am going to go down there and see if they
have any photos or anything. Carolyn Cornelius
*****
This one was very interesting in the way I jumped to a ton of wrong conclusions. I
liked the way you said "covered up." It took my son to see the word plank. Anyway,
great quiz. I allowed the scaffolding to make me think it was a trolley or tram; I allowed
the sailor hats to make me take a hard look at the Bay of Pigs in 1961; I kept trying to
find a cover-up. Any number of things side tracked me. Great brain stretch. Thanks
Gina Hudson
Searching for train accident photos during years of inaugural addresses proved
unproductive. I finally figured that if it had anything to do with the "inaugural" it may
have occurred in Washington. Searches for Union Station accidents gave me the
answers. Don Draper
*****
Pretty cool huh! Just an example of government cover ups! Debbie Sterbinsky
*****
Way to go Jina!!! Didn't even have to drag her off YouTube to research this one!
"Mr. Rick"
*****
I recognized Union Station immediately. I have been there about a zillion times and had
never read anything about this accident. I am going to go down there and see if they
have any photos or anything. Carolyn Cornelius
*****
This one was very interesting in the way I jumped to a ton of wrong conclusions. I
liked the way you said "covered up." It took my son to see the word plank. Anyway,
great quiz. I allowed the scaffolding to make me think it was a trolley or tram; I allowed
the sailor hats to make me take a hard look at the Bay of Pigs in 1961; I kept trying to
find a cover-up. Any number of things side tracked me. Great brain stretch. Thanks
Gina Hudson
Retired Battalion Chief James ``Jimmie'' Fought of the Arlington
County Fire Department, a founder of the Arlington County Fire
Department Historical Society, died at his home in Arlington, Virginia,
on Dec. 16, 2005. He was 91.
The chief was a member of a firefighting family. His father served as
a sergeant with the District of Columbia Fire Department, and his late
son served as a captain in the Arlington County Fire Department.
Earlier as a fire captain, Fought was in charge of the county's old
``Squad 5’’ that responded to a pair of disasters in Washington on Jan.
County Fire Department, a founder of the Arlington County Fire
Department Historical Society, died at his home in Arlington, Virginia,
on Dec. 16, 2005. He was 91.
The chief was a member of a firefighting family. His father served as
a sergeant with the District of Columbia Fire Department, and his late
son served as a captain in the Arlington County Fire Department.
Earlier as a fire captain, Fought was in charge of the county's old
``Squad 5’’ that responded to a pair of disasters in Washington on Jan.
| James Fought |
15, 1953 - "Black Thursday" - the day a runaway Pennsylvania Railroad train plowed
into the concourse at Union Station, and a later unrelated explosion at the Standard Tire
and Battery Store in Northeast Washington that injured a number of D.C. firemen.
Read more about Chief Fought at http://arlingtonfirejournal.blogspot.com/
into the concourse at Union Station, and a later unrelated explosion at the Standard Tire
and Battery Store in Northeast Washington that injured a number of D.C. firemen.
Read more about Chief Fought at http://arlingtonfirejournal.blogspot.com/
| Fought Fought the Fire |
| ********** |
| Quiz Number 181 - 26 October 2008 THE TRAIN THAT ALMOST DELAYED AN INAUGURATION The Federal Express Train roared out of control, Crashing hard into the Washington's Union Station. 15 January 1953 was the fateful day, Eisenhower's Inauguration was set soon for the Nation. Failure of a Brake Controlling Valve was the cause, Where the locomotive and two cars met their fate, Quick cover up of the floor of the collapse site, Allowed the Inauguration to meet its planned date. Robert Edward McKenna Quizmaster Poet Laureate |
| PRR/Amtrak GG1 4876 Penn Station, Newark by Peter Donner http://world.nycsubway.org/perl/show?71350 |
It's one he got to know well during his
career with the Pennsylvania Railroad,
when his work aboard engine 4876 took
him up and down the East Coast.
But the electric engine's greatest test came
as it led the Federal Express on Jan. 15,
1953, when the brakes failed as the train
barreled toward Union Station in
Washington, D.C., at 80 mph.
career with the Pennsylvania Railroad,
when his work aboard engine 4876 took
him up and down the East Coast.
But the electric engine's greatest test came
as it led the Federal Express on Jan. 15,
1953, when the brakes failed as the train
barreled toward Union Station in
Washington, D.C., at 80 mph.
| Rail worker recalls 1953 crash The York Dispatch, PA 08/21/2008 http://investing.businessweek.com/research/..... |
| Remarks from the Quizmaster General |
| Several Quizmasters believed that the train accident pictured in this week's quiz photo was the one that occurred on January 6, 1853, near Andover, MA According to: http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derailment: The Boston & Maine noon express, traveling from Boston to Lawrence, Massachusetts, derails at 40 miles per hour when an axle breaks at Andover, and the only coach goes down an embankment and breaks in two. Only one person is killed, the 12-year-old son of President-elect Franklin Pierce, but it is initially reported that General Pierce is also a fatality. He is on board, but is only badly bruised. The baggage car and the locomotive remain on the track. However, this answer could not be correct, since the type of photograph shown was not available in 1853. Back then, only Daguerreotypes and ambrotypes were in existence. Snapshots (unmounted photographs on paper) were invented only near the turn of the 20th century. Another clue is that electric locomotives similar to the one shows in our quiz photo, were not available back then either. Another interesting answer was submitted by Kelly Fetherlin. Kelly guessed that the accident featured in this week’s photo quiz occurred at the station at St. Valery-en- Caux, France. It occurred on the morning of 17 January 1945, just three days prior to the 4th inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt who had been re-elected to an unprecedented 4th term as President in 1944. (Roosevelt’s inauguration took place on 20 January 1945). The train was carrying U. S. soldiers, 53 of whom were killed, and 200 were injured. This answer cannot be correct since the "Waiting Room" sign in the photo is in English. Good try though! Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD Quizmaster General |
On the night of January 14, 1953, Train
#173, THE FEDERAL EXPRESS, left
Boston on time for its scheduled arrival at
Washington Union Station, 459 miles and
9-1/2 hours away. This was one of many
trains bringing people to Washington for
Eisenhower's first inauguration.
A minor brake problem was corrected
after the scheduled station stop at
Providence, RI. It seems that the valves
#173, THE FEDERAL EXPRESS, left
Boston on time for its scheduled arrival at
Washington Union Station, 459 miles and
9-1/2 hours away. This was one of many
trains bringing people to Washington for
Eisenhower's first inauguration.
A minor brake problem was corrected
after the scheduled station stop at
Providence, RI. It seems that the valves
| ********** |
| The Crash of the GG1 4876 January 15, 1953 http://www.steamlocomotive.com/GG1/prr4876-crash.shtml |
that controlled the air brake connections between the third and fourth cars had closed.
This prevented the rear cars from having the brakes released by the engineer in the
locomotive. By opening the valve, the train was again able to move.
The train was about 56 minutes late due to the inspections, but the engineer made up
about 11 minutes on the run into New Haven. There, the diesel engines were changed
for electrics and the trainline brakes again checked. Everything seemed in order. Three
more cars were added at New Haven for a total of 16 in the train.
More time was made up on the four track Shore Line through Connecticut and the train
arrived at Pennsylvania Station, New York only 38 minutes late. The brakes had been
used 14 times between New Haven and New York with no recurring trouble.
At Pennsylvania Station, GG-1 class electric locomotive #4876 replaced the New Haven
electric for the remaining trip to Washington. The new engineer was Harry W. Bower,
who was not told the reason the train was late, but did make the prescribed terminal
brakes checks before moving the train.
This prevented the rear cars from having the brakes released by the engineer in the
locomotive. By opening the valve, the train was again able to move.
The train was about 56 minutes late due to the inspections, but the engineer made up
about 11 minutes on the run into New Haven. There, the diesel engines were changed
for electrics and the trainline brakes again checked. Everything seemed in order. Three
more cars were added at New Haven for a total of 16 in the train.
More time was made up on the four track Shore Line through Connecticut and the train
arrived at Pennsylvania Station, New York only 38 minutes late. The brakes had been
used 14 times between New Haven and New York with no recurring trouble.
At Pennsylvania Station, GG-1 class electric locomotive #4876 replaced the New Haven
electric for the remaining trip to Washington. The new engineer was Harry W. Bower,
who was not told the reason the train was late, but did make the prescribed terminal
brakes checks before moving the train.
The FEDERAL made stops at Philadelphia
and Wilmington with a total of 14 more
brake applications with no problems. By the
time the train reached Baltimore, it had made
up another three minutes. After clearing the
Baltimore Yard Limits, Engineer Bower
notched the controller up to 80 MPH for the
run into Washington. He had no reason
apply the brakes until the train reached
signal #1339 about 2 miles from Union
Station.
Bower shut the controller and applied a 17
pound brake this should have slowed the
train considerably, but did not. He then
realized that the train could not be stopped in
and Wilmington with a total of 14 more
brake applications with no problems. By the
time the train reached Baltimore, it had made
up another three minutes. After clearing the
Baltimore Yard Limits, Engineer Bower
notched the controller up to 80 MPH for the
run into Washington. He had no reason
apply the brakes until the train reached
signal #1339 about 2 miles from Union
Station.
Bower shut the controller and applied a 17
pound brake this should have slowed the
train considerably, but did not. He then
realized that the train could not be stopped in
time. He dropped sand and put the brake into emergency this should have brought the
train to a jarring halt, but did not.
All of the members of the operating crew realized the train was in trouble, but could do
nothing about it. Bower stayed at his post and held the horn valve open to warn
everyone away from track 16, where the FEDERAL was due to stop.
Bower knew that the engine brakes and maybe those on the first car had applied, but
the other 15 cars were pushing them.
The train director at K Tower at the entrance to Union Station called the station master
and said "There's a runaway coming at you on track 16 - get the hell outa there!" The
train smashed through the station master's office behind the end of track 16. It seemed
that the train would plow through the Waiting Room. The floor of the Concourse
train to a jarring halt, but did not.
All of the members of the operating crew realized the train was in trouble, but could do
nothing about it. Bower stayed at his post and held the horn valve open to warn
everyone away from track 16, where the FEDERAL was due to stop.
Bower knew that the engine brakes and maybe those on the first car had applied, but
the other 15 cars were pushing them.
The train director at K Tower at the entrance to Union Station called the station master
and said "There's a runaway coming at you on track 16 - get the hell outa there!" The
train smashed through the station master's office behind the end of track 16. It seemed
that the train would plow through the Waiting Room. The floor of the Concourse
| Technical Information Type: 4-6-6-4 Traction Current: Single-phase, 15,000 V, 25 Hz Power: 4,920 hp Motors: Twelve 410 hp Weight: 477,000 lbs. Speed: 100 mph |
between the platforms
and the Waiting Room
gave way and the engine
fell through to a baggage
room below.
The clock in the Station
Master's office stopped
at 8:38AM - the
FEDERAL was only 18
minutes late!
Because of the quick
action of a few
railroaders and a little
and the Waiting Room
gave way and the engine
fell through to a baggage
room below.
The clock in the Station
Master's office stopped
at 8:38AM - the
FEDERAL was only 18
minutes late!
Because of the quick
action of a few
railroaders and a little
| The GG1 4876 http://www.geocities.com/jd696/gg1.html |
luck, no one was killed and only 87 were injured. Property damage was estimated at $1
million.
This accident could not have happened at a worse time. Thousands were scheduled to
arrive for the inauguration festivities.
By 7:00 AM the next day all of the cars were removed from the station, leaving only
#4876 in the baggage room. A temporary floor was built over the engine and the station
was open as usual within 72 hours of the accident.
After the inauguration, #4876 was cut into a number of pieces and shipped to the
Pennsylvania's engine shop in Altoona, Pa. and was rebuilt and placed back into service.
million.
This accident could not have happened at a worse time. Thousands were scheduled to
arrive for the inauguration festivities.
By 7:00 AM the next day all of the cars were removed from the station, leaving only
#4876 in the baggage room. A temporary floor was built over the engine and the station
was open as usual within 72 hours of the accident.
After the inauguration, #4876 was cut into a number of pieces and shipped to the
Pennsylvania's engine shop in Altoona, Pa. and was rebuilt and placed back into service.
| ********** |
| ********** |
Close calls: Conductor T.J. Murphy pulled the
emergency brake cord and other crew members tried to
set hand brakes, but the limited brake power slowed the
train only partially, according to written accounts of
what happened
aboard the runaway train.
It shot over the New York Avenue crossover. Another
train would ordinarily have been across the tracks,
Moyer said, but because his train, the Federal Express,
was behind schedule, the tracks were clear.
emergency brake cord and other crew members tried to
set hand brakes, but the limited brake power slowed the
train only partially, according to written accounts of
what happened
aboard the runaway train.
It shot over the New York Avenue crossover. Another
train would ordinarily have been across the tracks,
Moyer said, but because his train, the Federal Express,
was behind schedule, the tracks were clear.
Then the engine started swaying as it took turns and crossovers at more than double
the 15-mph speed limit. Moyer said another engine would likely have derailed, but the
GG-1 righted itself and kept going.
Bower blew the horn to let people know the train was out of control, sending people
hurrying out of the way. Moyer said he was calm as he turned around in his seat and
braced himself, the way he had been taught in the Coast Guard.
The engine tore through the stationmaster's office, went through a steel bumping-block
meant to stop slow-moving engines and crashed through a gate and into the
just-emptied platform. Then the 240-ton engine went through the floor, sinking into a
baggage room.
Moyer said the gentle collapse kept the train from rolling another few feet into the
crowded main station.
"It could have been the worst wreck in history," Moyer said.
As it was, 87 passengers were injured, seven of them seriously. But most on the train
the 15-mph speed limit. Moyer said another engine would likely have derailed, but the
GG-1 righted itself and kept going.
Bower blew the horn to let people know the train was out of control, sending people
hurrying out of the way. Moyer said he was calm as he turned around in his seat and
braced himself, the way he had been taught in the Coast Guard.
The engine tore through the stationmaster's office, went through a steel bumping-block
meant to stop slow-moving engines and crashed through a gate and into the
just-emptied platform. Then the 240-ton engine went through the floor, sinking into a
baggage room.
Moyer said the gentle collapse kept the train from rolling another few feet into the
crowded main station.
"It could have been the worst wreck in history," Moyer said.
As it was, 87 passengers were injured, seven of them seriously. But most on the train
were fine, said Moyer, who had only
a scratch on his arm.
Moyer said he got out and felt afraid
for the first time as he looked at the
wreck and realized how serious it
really was. He felt even worse when
he went to the local YMCA for
doughnuts and coffee afterward.
"With the condition I was in, I really
got indigestion," Moyer said.
a scratch on his arm.
Moyer said he got out and felt afraid
for the first time as he looked at the
wreck and realized how serious it
really was. He felt even worse when
he went to the local YMCA for
doughnuts and coffee afterward.
"With the condition I was in, I really
got indigestion," Moyer said.
| For more information on the PPR GG-1 4876, see www.geocities.com/jd696/gg1.html |
model of what engine 4876 looked like
afterward, painted Tuscan red with gold stripes.
The engine still ran smoothly until later changes
afterward, painted Tuscan red with gold stripes.
The engine still ran smoothly until later changes
to its equalizing bars roughened the ride, Moyer said. He spent a lot of time in the
engine until the two retired in the 1980s, and he said he'd like another chance to see "the
old girl" that gave him the ride of his life.
"As an electric, it was one of the finest ones ever made," Moyer said.
engine until the two retired in the 1980s, and he said he'd like another chance to see "the
old girl" that gave him the ride of his life.
"As an electric, it was one of the finest ones ever made," Moyer said.
| For a list of famous train wrecks after 1950, click here. |
| The GG1 4876 as it looks today. http://flickr.com/photos/..... http://www.steamlocomotive.com... |
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