1/26/47 - PITCAIRN, PA

At about 4AM in misting weather conditions, a yard crew with Eng. 7151 running backwards pulling a cut of 13 cars failed to stop short of a crossover and hit the 57th car of X6416 WEST (97 cars + cab). A brakeman riding the roof of the 5th car was giving stop signals which were not seen by the engine crew.

The 57th and 58th cars of X6416 derailed and struck the right side of the cab of Eng.3765 on Train #78 ("Pennsylvanian") crushing the cab and killing the Engineer and damaging but not derailing the cars of that train. #78 was running at about 50mph on Tk. #3 and was OT.

Query: the rear car of #78 is identified in the accident report as a "hospital ward" car; are there any photographs of this type of car?

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view ... ajaxhist=0

Actually, the fleet of U.S. Army hospital cars consisted of two designs, early war and later war. The early war cars were Pullman-built (or converted) heavyweights; the later war cars were ACF-built lightweights. They were originally used to transport wounded from ports of debarkation to assorted hospitals throughout the country, staffed by Medical Service Corps personnel. Following the war, many were used to transport remains being brought back to the States to points inland.

Thanks for the information and the link.

The United Railway Historical Society in New Jersey has a hospital sleeper as they call it in their collection. Last car on the page.

http://urhs.org/urhs-equipment-roster/non-revenue/