Leo,
Thanks for bringing an OLD memory back. I wasn't very old, remember,
but I distinctly remember the event. While shopping in one of the
two grocery stores in Oswego the Volunteer Fire Dept. headed out of
town on a call. The "call" was the collision of the motor car and a
waycar light O1a headed for Yeagan Pit.
My understanding of the situation was the direct result of working
with an Engineer who happened to be the Fireman on the O1 engine.
"Assuming" is dangerous and, at times, deadly. When the light engine
passed through Aurora Depot a motor car was observed sittin' on one
of the depot tracks. Oh, that must be the Streator car. Proceeding
west the crew picked up a stack of orders at Montgomery tower. Since
they "knew" the Streator train had arrived at Aurora there wasn't a
major rush to read the orders, INCLUDING the runnin' order. This
unread order authorized the light engine to run Montgomery to Yeagan
Pit AFTER the arrival of the Streator schedule.
Since west Yard Limit Montgomery and the point of collision were only
a few minutes apart it's easy to see how the crew set themselves up
for a disaster. The car they saw at Aurora was, supposedly, the
Rockford car that went BO upon arrival and was waiting for somebody
to tow it in for repairs.
Since the crew of the O1 was unhurt as a result of the collision it
may be an interesting but sad note to mention that the Fireman of the
light engine was killed only three miles east of the collision site
years later while working as the Pilot on the Rock Island train that
was hit, head-on, by No. 3/55.
Karl
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