--- In CBQ@yahoogroups.com, "Karl" <qrailroadman@...> wrote:
>
> ...... You guys remember when the Fireman's Local Chairman from Galesburg
> took out the area immediately east of Rt. 23 with, I think, 82? Stacked 'em
> up 3 deep.
> Karl
KLR -
I sure do; I was called as the fireman for the "wrecker" to clean the mess up.
The derailment of 49 cars of train #82 occurred about 11:30 PM December 8, 1970
at MP 60.9. Crew of train #82 was engineer Alonzo ("Lonnie") Treadway, Sr.,
fireman Roger Howard and Conductor Louis (the "Hunkie") Gargo (brakemen
unknown). I was on duty at Eola RH for 1:40 AM December 9th with engineer(?)
Ted (the "Drunk") Cox [who later wiped-out the old Belmont depot in a
derailment of spectacular magnitude] and engine BN 1572 [CB&Q GP-7 #216 built
1951]. We grabbed a flat of panel track and a hopper of ballast from the west
yard and headed for Aurora to pick-up the "hook". Departed Aurora @ 4:25 AM and
arrived at the derailment site @ 5:30 AM and what a "site" it was! 49 cars
stacked 3-high to both sides of the main, all between route 23 and the block
signal S60.8 (about 300 feet); it only took about four panels to close the gap
of destroyed track. Hulcher Emergency Services provided assistance to the
Aurora wrecker in the clean-up process. I believe the cause of the derailment
was determined to be rough track in the vicinity of the east siding switch at
Waterman. A car derailed and when it got to the route 23 grade crossing, that
was it and hell broke loose. On 2-8-71 I worked with Lonnie on #181 to Savanna
and I asked him how fast he was going on the descending grade thru Waterman at
the time of the derailment, and he said, "60 MPH" with a big S-E grin; Roger
said the same thing with the same expression. Years later I asked Gargo about
the derailment and he said he thought "he bought the farm" when he saw the cars
stacking-up and he wasn't slowing down much in the waycar. I asked him about
"slack-action" and his response was that it was no worse than riding behind Max
Wissel. December 9, 1970 was the last day to legally work 16 hours; 12-10-70
was the first day the FHSL dropped to 14 hours total maximum time on duty; two
years later, it dropped to 12 hours max. on duty time. Interesting to note in
my timebook that 12-10-70, the BN was on strike, but I don't know what Union
struck. It obviously, was short lived, as my timebook indicates I went out on
passenger train #9, December 11th, as the fireman with engineer Don Hansen,
Chicago-Savanna [engines BN 9944 & 9990 with 6 cars, if anyone is interested].
Bob Campbell
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