Nostalgia & History > Here's Why SP #4006 Tried to Eat Topper...

August 27, 1966 was a bad day for SP RS-32 #4006. On the morning of that day, the 4006 was eastbound on the Exeter Branch at Clotho (between Fresno and Sanger) when it was struck on the front right corner by a speeding big rig at the grade crossing of McCall Avenue. The collision and resulting derailment killed the truck driver and a passenger and injured four out of five of the SP crew members aboard the Alco and the caboose 17 cars back. The train was likely the "Day Strathmore" local, and the remains of the 4006 are seen here at Fresno Yard in early September, 1966. At any rate, 4006 had been reduced from frontline duty on mainline trains to peddler freights like the Strathmore in the four short years since her delivery, only to be nearly demolished at a funky, non-descript place called Clotho. So, what did SP do? They put the Sacramento General Shops' talented folks to work and rebuilt her, of course. If you compare later photos of the 4006 to those of her sisters, the battery box louvers are noticeably different as a result of this collision and subsequent rebuild. What the photos don't indicate is what Topper nearly found out the hard way: Upon rebuilding, the Sacramento boys installed a carnivorous cooling fan.... BTW, I've got photos of the wreck scene if anyone wants a look at how the 4006 came to acquire this body configuration. "Don't worry, it'll buff right out..."
Photo by Eric Frodsham

John

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Extra points for the KM on the right

And for all you model railroaders who want to duplicate this, here's the recipe:

1) Place a plastic model in your kitchen oven

2) Cook at 350 for two minutes

Lets see the photos of the accident scene. Guess this is one time the train didn't win.

ble692 Wrote:
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"Guess this is one time the train didn't win."

Given the fact that the occupants of the truck were killed, the train and engine crew survived and the engine was rebuilt then returned to service, I would have to respectfully disagree.

topper Wrote:

> And for all you model railroaders who want to
> duplicate this, here's the recipe:
>
> 1) Place a plastic model in your kitchen oven
>
> 2) Cook at 350 for two minutes

Serve with cornbread stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce?

"Red or gray meat for you, dear?"

Now was the second photo taken before or after the repair work? - Tony J.

I'd like to see the accident photos.

My grandmother lived at McCall and Manning. Been over that grade crossing to "grandma's house" many times.

Thanks,
daylight