Re: [CBQ] Re: Downers Grove 1947 Derailment

["qutlx1@aol.com [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>]

The Article in BRHS Zephyr 71 "Called for the Wrecker"states the Aurora wrecker was steam until the bitter end. The long time Aurora derrick(204350) was coal fired. It moved to Denver in '68 and 204362,which was converted to oil in 1961 replaced it.

Lots more interesting things about the Aurora wrecker,wrecks and how it was done are in the article.

Non BRHS members who are interested go to Burlingtonroute.com and order the issue from BRHS. Better yet join us !

Let's see if I can shed some light on those "cornerings" at the Park. The south wye was a tricky spot to set cars out as the grade(built up to get over the IHB was quite steep rolling eastbound. So when you did get stopped( hopefully with out running past the switch,with the cut car) you wanted to make sure the standing portion was anchored down to avoid the unintended movement. Since setting out at the park was usually a quick,fast move (especially pre mechanical reefer days) near the end of the run,many,many engineers and trainman would "save" or "bottle" the air in the standing train. This was more common in winter than warm weather. This saved the time to pump the train line back up when the power was coupled back on and in winter it could take a bit.This would generally work IF the engineer and trainman coordinated their actions. Get the train stopped,stand at the cut while the engineer applies a full reduction and it equalizes. Then when he toots the whistle,or waves or whatever sign you had established; go ahead and turn both angle cocks. And watch the standing train as you pull away just to be sure. If you didn't follow these steps or simply let the brakes go in emergency you could indeed find your train coming at you. In pre radio days the rear end guys may think the head on is tied back on and pulling before they realize the train is rolling,on its own. If the train is short enough,the rear guys can watch the set out going on and can pull the air if they see it's a runaway.

I have Aurora Division ETTS from the 30s into the 70s and don't recall ever seeing any instructions in them or on a bulletin board about applying hand brakes at the Park. 

Leo Phillipp

On Aug 15, 2015, at 7:40 PM, reforst@comcast.net [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Yes, there were several wrecks at Maple Avenue in Brookfield that I saw.  I lived one block from there.  And small wrecks would happen at the IHB interchange a couple of time a year.  You'd hear the big thunder rumble and run out to the tracks to see what happened.  The grade coming into Brookfield from the West was the apparent problem.  Several times, as the set out was being pushed back on the IHB, the rest of the Q train,  sitting on the Main, would have the air would equalize (?) and the rest of the train would start to roll into the cut being shoved back on to the IHB.  Several times cattle cars would be damaged and cattle and pigs would be running loose around the tracks in Brookfield.  I think there were special instructions issues out about setting so many hand brakes on the main to stop this occurrence.

When was the Aurora/Eola hook converted to diesel?  Sometime in the late 50's?  That would tend to nail down the date a bit.  What I remember at Downers Grove, or maybe it was closer and around Hinsdale, was that the hook was still in steam, putting out a lot of white steam and you could smell the sweet coal smoke.  So, I saw it in steam when I was 9 or 10.

Does anyone have a record (listing) of the wrecks on the C&A?  Or, a list when the Hook was called out to clear derailments in the 50's?  Thanks.

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Posted by: qutlx1@aol.com

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