Eastern Railroad Discussion > "It's a BIG one" - PC in Central NY - late 1960's

Long before the internet, cell phones, portable scanners and digital cameras, train wrecks were "discovered" on the morning or evening news.  At the approximate age of 25 (1968-69), while living in Syracuse, NY,  I learned of a major wreck on the Penn Central east of the Dewitt Yard.  It could have been anywhere from just a few miles east to east of Utica.....I don't recall.

Armed with a small box camera, I set out on the cold winter day to see what I could see.  The 12 pictures which follow capture the major flexi-van derailment which occurred on straight track on a major fill  I don't know if two trains were involved. 

This was back at the time when railroad officials wore long coats and top hats.  Note how they are mingling with workers in hard hats.  Of course, this was before Hulcher and Corman so the PC wreck equipment. was fully mobilized,  including the "Big Hook".  Back then, it was possible to walk right up to a wreck.....making sure to stay out of the way.  Note the uniformed policeman in one picture.

Can anyone provide more details about the incident.

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Pictures 4-6.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/16 08:20 by cinder.

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Pictures 7-9.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/16 08:21 by cinder.

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Pictures 10-12.  I have posted on this board rather than the Nostalgia & History Board because I consider it to be of general interest.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/16 08:26 by cinder.

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Very nice photos from the by-gone days when one could visit a wreck site and unless one got in the way or tried to take something like one of those packages, in general no one would bother you.  Try this today; they don't even want you near the area or taking photos from public streets.
John

Nice hunk of broken rail visible in that overhead shot. Judging by the marks on the ties, the derailment occurred before that, though.

Is this the wreck caused by a broken truck bolster on one of the GP-40s?   Then they discovered this was a potential problem on other GP-40s so EMD supplied loaner GP-40s while the repairs were being made.  Remember the black GP-40s with a two-digit numebr that were running around back in '69? 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/16 19:59 by exopr.

Nice shots. On the overhead shot it looks like that box says CP 30. According to an old PC ETT, CP 30 was at MP 251.6 in Rome, NY

John

exopr Wrote:
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> Is this the wreck caused by a broken truck bolster
> on one of the GP-40s?   Then they discovered
> this was a potential problem on other GP-40s so
> EMD supplied loaner GP-40s while the repairs were
> being made.  Remeber the black GP-40s with a
> two-digit numebr that were running around back in
> '69? 

Pic 4?

That was some wreck.....

Thanks for posting this.

Me thinks that was the one caused by a failed traction motor support bearing that was not caught by the servo hot box detector that reads the outside (truck bearing) only. It was on one of the GP 40's. The axle dropped and the unit dug in. The general derailment followed

Posted from Android

That one WAS near the Rome passenger station.

Posted from Android

What is the purpose in removing the short piece of rail in front of the 3203?

Doug Wetherhold
Macungie, PA

ALCO630 Wrote:
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> What is the purpose in removing the short piece of
> rail in front of the 3203?

To provide protection for workers, possibly? 

Note the jointed rail. In that era, with all the "bent ends", the freight train speed on both mains in the Utica, Rome area was a mere 30 mph.

Posted from Android

halfmoonharold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ALCO630 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What is the purpose in removing the short piece
> of
> > rail in front of the 3203?
>
> To provide protection for workers, possibly? 


Looks broken. The end in front of the engine is bent outward and the close end of the piece next to the track is not at a vertical right angle.

TAW

The PC 3117 went on to become DRGW 3133 and the PC 3060 is still working as PAL 2127.   

Cinder-
Those are great photos!

I grew up in that area but was too young to remember that derailment. 
Looks to me like that wreck occurred just west of the Rome station.  Your elevated photo 10 appears to be looking west and taken off of the Erie Blvd East overpass, as you can see Martin Street in that photo on the left.  The Rome station would be behind you about 1/4 mile to the east. 

I remember another significant derailment about 5 miles further west that happened Dec of 75,76 or 77.
Specifically that wreck occurred just east of the Blackmans Corners Rd grade crossing in Verona.  I remember my Dad taking me there to watch the wreck clean up a day or two after it occurred.  It was an eastbound with loaded auto racks, many of which wound up tangled in the wooded area just south of the ROW.  Remember seeing one new vehicle caught up in some upper tree limbs with its 4-way flashers blinking.  Wish I had been old enough to own a camera and take pictures of that mess. 

I wonder if anyone remembers or has photos of that one..?

Thanks for sharing your photos.

That would not matter since the switch is reversed...

CG


halfmoonharold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ALCO630 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What is the purpose in removing the short piece
> of
> > rail in front of the 3203?
>
> To provide protection for workers, possibly?