4-Track mainline, automatic block signals and train stop system.
At about 2:20 AM, PRR X-476 WEST (94 cars + caboose) stopped on Tk. 3 at SS-W where the engine was cut off. This was a detour move with a PRR crew and NYC conductor and engineer pilots. Permission was received to take the engine to the yard for coal via the hand-operated maintrack trailing-point crossovers. Without waiting for the entire route to be lined, the engine crossed from Tk. 3 to Tk.1 and partially to Tk. 2, but the east switch lock of that crossover was frozen.
PASSENGER EXTRA 3137 EAST with 13 cars was moving at 70 mph on "Clear" signals on Tk.2 and struck the fouling PRR engine which was derailed. The 3137 and tender and all 13 cars of that train were derailed with the engine and tender overturned onto their left sides.
Amazingly, only the pilot engineer was killed and only 5 people were injured.
Aside from the failure top follow the rules for lining the route for the crossover movement, there was a failure to provide flag protection.
What is perhaps unusual is that the crossovers at Signal Station W (west end of Ashtabula Yard) were hand-operated. not interlocked.
At about 2:20 AM, PRR X-476 WEST (94 cars + caboose) stopped on Tk. 3 at SS-W where the engine was cut off. This was a detour move with a PRR crew and NYC conductor and engineer pilots. Permission was received to take the engine to the yard for coal via the hand-operated maintrack trailing-point crossovers. Without waiting for the entire route to be lined, the engine crossed from Tk. 3 to Tk.1 and partially to Tk. 2, but the east switch lock of that crossover was frozen.
PASSENGER EXTRA 3137 EAST with 13 cars was moving at 70 mph on "Clear" signals on Tk.2 and struck the fouling PRR engine which was derailed. The 3137 and tender and all 13 cars of that train were derailed with the engine and tender overturned onto their left sides.
Amazingly, only the pilot engineer was killed and only 5 people were injured.
Aside from the failure top follow the rules for lining the route for the crossover movement, there was a failure to provide flag protection.
What is perhaps unusual is that the crossovers at Signal Station W (west end of Ashtabula Yard) were hand-operated. not interlocked.
