by shlustig
Accident occurred on the West Side line between Spuyten Duyvil and W. 72nd St. in the early AM and resulted in 1 fatality and 2 injuries.
A parade of freight trains Dp. DV starting around 4 AM and made various stops en route to the W. 30th St. Yard. Trains included FJ-2, Extra 2719, KN-4, HN-4, and BN-10. At 4 separate points, HN-4 closed up to KN-4 and stopped in response to the flagman's signals as KN-4 had closed up to the stopped train ahead. After proceeding, they passed through the Ft. Washington Cut and over the Viaduct when in the vicinity of W. 124th St. KN-4 stopped again and was rear-ended by HN-4 which was doing about 18mph. The rear-end crew was in the caboose at impact, and the caboose was partially telescoped and crushed. Downed electric lines set the wreckage on fire.
Accident site was at the end of a left-hand curve, but the fireman on HN-4 failed to see the markers on the train ahead in time to avoid the impact. Territory was within "Yard Limits", so the speed of HN-4 was questionable as they should have been prepared to stop short of an obstruction, especially since they were aware of the trains ahead.
A parade of freight trains Dp. DV starting around 4 AM and made various stops en route to the W. 30th St. Yard. Trains included FJ-2, Extra 2719, KN-4, HN-4, and BN-10. At 4 separate points, HN-4 closed up to KN-4 and stopped in response to the flagman's signals as KN-4 had closed up to the stopped train ahead. After proceeding, they passed through the Ft. Washington Cut and over the Viaduct when in the vicinity of W. 124th St. KN-4 stopped again and was rear-ended by HN-4 which was doing about 18mph. The rear-end crew was in the caboose at impact, and the caboose was partially telescoped and crushed. Downed electric lines set the wreckage on fire.
Accident site was at the end of a left-hand curve, but the fireman on HN-4 failed to see the markers on the train ahead in time to avoid the impact. Territory was within "Yard Limits", so the speed of HN-4 was questionable as they should have been prepared to stop short of an obstruction, especially since they were aware of the trains ahead.