Railroad Forums 

  • 1/28/55 - STAMFORD, CT

  • Discussion relating to the NH and its subsidiaries (NYW&B, Union Freight Railroad, Connecticut Company, steamship lines, etc.). up until its 1969 inclusion into the Penn Central merger. This forum is also for the discussion of efforts to preserve former New Haven equipment, artifacts and its history. You may also wish to visit www.nhrhta.org for more information.
Discussion relating to the NH and its subsidiaries (NYW&B, Union Freight Railroad, Connecticut Company, steamship lines, etc.). up until its 1969 inclusion into the Penn Central merger. This forum is also for the discussion of efforts to preserve former New Haven equipment, artifacts and its history. You may also wish to visit www.nhrhta.org for more information.
 #1458884  by shlustig
 
At about 8:09 PM, Train #N-45 (4 MU's) arrived from New Canaan on Tk.5 and the 2 east cars were uncoupled and moved eastward to Tk. 7.

The 2 west cars and the crew turned for Train #N-50 which Dp. at about 8:11PM and inadvertently followed the preceding movement into Tk. 7 instead of being routed on Tk. 5. Impact speed was not determined, but 36 injuries were reported (33 passengers and 3 crew). The switch to Tk. 7 was part of the SS-38 Interlocking, and the governing signal could display either "STOP" or "RESTRICTING". The leverman in the Tower did not see the movement of the cut-off cars into Tk. 7 and had not restored the switch for N-50, and the signal went yellow as soon as that movement cleared the circuit.

Subsequent braking tests indicated that the speed of N-50 was well above that allowed by a "RESTRICTING" signal indication.