Railroad Forums 

  • 1/6/47 - GALATEA, OHIO

  • Discussion relating to the NYC and subsidiaries, up to 1968. Visit the NYCS Historical Society for more information.
Discussion relating to the NYC and subsidiaries, up to 1968. Visit the NYCS Historical Society for more information.

Moderator: Otto Vondrak

 #1455973  by shlustig
 
Galatea is about 30 miles south of Stanley Yard, Toledo and is where the T&OC - Western Branch crossed the B&O mainline.

At about 11PM on this date, X-2135 South (2135 - 2177, 96 cars + caboose) took siding for northbound 2nd 95 (2112, 70 cars + caboose).

The tower operator cleared the route for 2nd #95 and inspected the train as it passed at 32 mph, observed no defects, and hiballed the rear end crew.

Unfortunately, a journal on the 35th head car (a loaded hopper of coal) broke while crossing the B&O diamonds and the car was dragged over a private drive crossing and the trailing point switch of the interchange track up to the south switch of the siding where the general derailment of 16 cars occurred. The head brakeman of X-2135 was on the ground while the lead engineer was talking with the engine crew of the 2177, but the lead fireman was killed when the 2135 took the brunt of the collision with the derailed cars of 2nd 95 and overturned.

Today both the B&O and the NYC lines at Galatea are part of CSX.
 #1455986  by BR&P
 
Sometimes you can do everything right, but just be in the wrong place at the wrong time.