1987 Gunpow Wreck

[Paul]

Looking for web photos of the January 4, 1987 Amtrak wreck at Chase Maryland. Looking for photos of the wrecked locomotives, both Conrail and Amtrak.

[LCJ]

I've never seen any photos online. I have a set somewhere in a box. As I'm in the process of packing to move, it's not a good time for a search. Sorry.

[7 Train]

Correction: January 4, 1987. NEC Train 94 (the Colonial) left Washington DC for Boston on a Sunday afternoon led by a double header (AEM7 900 & 903). About 1 hour into the ride at the Gunpowder interlocking, a trio of Conrail B-36's headed to Harrisburg Enola yard violated a red ("danger") signal at the passing siding just before the bridge. The AEM7's were going over 130mph and had no time to react. The impact destroyed the lead AEM7, killing engineer Jerome Evans. The rear AEM7's and GE B-36's were severely damaged. 15 passengers were killed. Conrail engineer Ricky Gates was tested positive for cannibis (he also was watching a football playoff game in the cab) and sentenced for neglienence.

I don't know any place for good photos, but search for '1987 Chase Maryland wreck' or '1987 Colonial wreck' could help.

Or did you mean the January 1988 "Night Owl" crash?

[cbaker]

Here's a link to one article:

http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/694sjgpm.asp

A google search turns up many hits -- try it.

[AEM7AC920]

I did a alot of searching on google and have came up with nothing good for detail shots also anyone else have any, i remember someone around here had some a while ago.

[LCJ]

The rear AEM7's and GE B-36's were severely damaged.

The rear B36-7 (5045) was completely destroyed in the collision. I walked right past it as it still smoldered, and didn't recognize the largest pile of black, oily parts as a locomotive. The middle unit (5052) had severe damage on the cab end, but was repaired and returned to the fleet. The lead unit (5044) had only minor damage.

Conrail engineer... was watching a football playoff game in the cab....

This was an unsubstantiated rumour circulated at the time -- and was not factual at all. There absolutely was no TV in the cab.

[matthewsaggie]

Those of you who look at the "Trains" mag forum on occasion, Ricky Gates is a member there and about 2 months ago there were about hundred posts between him and others discussing his role in the wreck and its aftermath. Got a little ugly at times, but interesting reading

[RRspatch]

I remember that day very well. I was scheduled to work 2nd trick as a dispatcher in "S" office in Philadelphia. At that time CETC was still 11 months away. I drove into work that day and remember seeing buses linded up all around 30th street station. I knew right away that something MAJOR had happened.

I have a box full of pictures (prints) stashed away someplace. They were taken the day after the wreck by a conductor. What I need to do is find them and maybe have them scanned.


RRspatch
(From Metroliners to "Z" trains....)

[MBTA F40PH-2C 1050]

wait, the article says the conrail train, and amtrak train were headin gin the same direction, i thought it was a head-on accident

[LCJ]

Conrail ENS121 went past a stop signal and out into the interlocking, stopping in the path of Amtrak. Technically, it was a rear-ender. The rear unit wasn't quite all the way out onto the active main, so the collision was slightly off-center.

[AEM7Fan]

If you're looking for a good video on it, Discovery has a video on train wrecks that has about a 10 minute section on it. The video is called Runaway Trains 2 I believe. I have really enjoyed it.

[448 LakeShoreLtd 449]

It was luck that the first two Amfleet cars were closed off by the conductor on that train for passengers boarding in Philly, if those two cars were full there would have been alot more then 16 deaths.

Gotta give the Amfleet cars credit in this wreck though, they looked like most of then stood up pretty good in this high speed collision. Saved many lives probably.

Still its shame that 16 people lost their lives due to that moron Ricky Gates tokin up and running a restricting signal . . .

[7 Train]

That shows you Budd's genius-the Amfleets cars were able to withstand such a strong impact. Budd has always been known for using the marvel of stainless steel.

[LCJ]

That shows you Budd's genius-the Amfleets cars were able to withstand such a strong impact. Budd has always been known for using the marvel of stainless steel.

It was good, yes, that the cars were so strong. There was at least one person, though, who died because they could not free him in time from some of that stainless that did get bent up in the collision. They tried using Hurst Jaws of Life at first, but blew them out right away because the steel wouldn't budge. Very tough stuff!

Because the crew had been evacuated right away, no one on scene knew that the leading cafe was closed. It was really flattened -- not much chance anyone would have survived that. Conductor got word out later that the car was closed off.

[F23A4]

Considering the circumstances which resulted in direct impact with a concentrated mass (three diesel units) of some 400 tons at a differential velocity close to 100 mph, the potential impact forces in this collision probably exceeded those ever experienced in North American passenger train operations.

Now that's scary. When I saw the movie 'Unbreakable', I thought about the Chase, Md. wreck of '87.