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Photo Chain Game

Randy HarrisonRandy HarrisonOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
@stangtrain posted:

Following @Randy Harrison my GG1:

IMG_2028

@stangtrain

I really love that particular GG-1, especially in its original Brunswick green with 5 pinstripes and small keystone. Number 4876 is the GG-1 that crashed into Union Station, Washington DC in January of 1953. It was leading PRR's train named The Federal, a combination New Haven and PRR trains originating in Boston, to the nation's Capital. It was a day or two before the inauguration of President Dwight David Eisenhower and Union Station was VERY busy with the throngs of people arriving to see the inauguration.

The New Haven train that originated in Boston experienced air brake problems around Rhode Island or Connecticut and made an unscheduled stop in a field. The train crew found the air brake problem. An angle cock joint in the air brake line between two coaches had shifted in position and was causing the air brakes to malfunction. The crew adjusted the connection, and the train proceeded to Penn Station, New York City smoothly and without further incident. The through New Haven coaches to Washington were coupled to the PRR train's GG-1 # 4876 with the rest of the PRR coaches behind them. Since the New Haven train performed so well after the angle cock correction, the New Haven crew did not even mention the air brake problem to the PRR train crew, and the Federal went on its way. It was delayed 45 minutes in Trenton, NJ then made the trip through Baltimore, MD, the last stop before Washington, without incident.

As The Federal came through Ivy City Yards in Washington, it was time to begin slowing down for its arrival in Union Station. The engine man (the title that the PRR gave what the rest of the railroads called the engineer) tried to apply the air brakes and realized the brakes were failing. Union Station, with the exception of several tracks that passed through a tunnel to Potomac Yard, is an end-of-track terminal ending at the entrance to the station's concourse. From one of the accounts that I read, the engine man pulled the horn cord and held it signifying a runaway train. He tried to force the engine into reverse and wound up shutting down the motor. The heavy train behind him pushed the engine onward. The tower man heard the horn and telephoned the Station Master saying, 'The Federal's a runaway! Run for your lives!!!' The tower man then turned to try to throw a switch and route The Federal onto another track to a tunnel but, by the time he looked in the switch control's direction, #4876 was crossing the switch and rocking side-to-side. By some miracle and quick action, the Station Master's crew had cleared the concourse of passengers. The GG-1 crashed into the concourse pulling two of the New Haven coaches with it. Due to the alertness of the train crew noticing the speed the train was traveling and telling passengers to brace themselves and keep their heads down, there were no fatalities and no serious injuries that kept any passengers in the hospital overnight. When attention was turned to the engine crew, they found the engine man and his fireman staggering around, banged-up but not seriously injured. The engine and first two coaches had sunken through the floor into the basement that housed a baggage/freight room whose entire staff had been recently released on break.

After the inauguration and the crowds of passengers had departed, GG-1 #4876 was cut into about 12 large sections and was sent to the PRR shops in Altoona, PA where it was reassembled and painted in Tuscan red. It ran for many years after until its retirement in the early 1980's.

This is my recollection of the wreck which, years ago through many written sources including an Interstate Commerce Commission report, I researched in depth. I am writing this on the spur of the moment without digging out my many sources and absolutely verifying the afore written account. In all of the sources, I remember that small details that differed among them. So, my apologies if some of this from-memory account is not totally accurate. If any of you have corrections to this account, please chime in.

Thank you.

P. S. - The remnants of #4876 are laying to waste outside of the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore Maryland.

Don McErleanDon McErleanOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

@Randy Harrison - THANK YOU for that story on the GG1 that crashed into Washington DC station... I used to commute to DC via the Eastern (Ex PRR) Corridor from Philadelphia when I worked at a Navy Laboratory in the Philly suburbs.  That picture of the GG1 sitting in the concourse always reminded us of what "could" happen.   Great story Randy, thanks for posting.

Best Wishes Don

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