by shlustig
Located on the Pittsburgh Division on the mountain about 12 miles west of Altoona.
Train #3 "Penn Texas" with Eng. 5525 and 13 cars added Eng. 1428 at Altoona as a head-end helper. The train stalled on the upgrade due to inadequate steam pressure and after a 15" delay proceeded to Gallitzin where it stopped to drop the 5525. When #3 attempted to start, the rear car Pullman "Cascade Mirage" became detached to due defective coupler and draft gear and rolled eastward on the downgrade where it derailed 3.37 miles east of Gallitzin.
The car overturned on its left side, hit the rock wall, was uprighted and partially crushed. There was 1 fatality and 13 injuries.
This accident occurred just 10 days after the famous derailment of Train #68 "Red Arrow" in the same area. In that incident, the train had doubleheaded 4-6-2's and 14 cars and overturned on a 30 mph curve at a speed in excess of 65 mph. There were 24 fatalities and 138 reported injuries.
The lead engineer survived and said that he thought the operation was normal, and the train crew apparently took no action in light of the excessive speed.
Train #3 "Penn Texas" with Eng. 5525 and 13 cars added Eng. 1428 at Altoona as a head-end helper. The train stalled on the upgrade due to inadequate steam pressure and after a 15" delay proceeded to Gallitzin where it stopped to drop the 5525. When #3 attempted to start, the rear car Pullman "Cascade Mirage" became detached to due defective coupler and draft gear and rolled eastward on the downgrade where it derailed 3.37 miles east of Gallitzin.
The car overturned on its left side, hit the rock wall, was uprighted and partially crushed. There was 1 fatality and 13 injuries.
This accident occurred just 10 days after the famous derailment of Train #68 "Red Arrow" in the same area. In that incident, the train had doubleheaded 4-6-2's and 14 cars and overturned on a 30 mph curve at a speed in excess of 65 mph. There were 24 fatalities and 138 reported injuries.
The lead engineer survived and said that he thought the operation was normal, and the train crew apparently took no action in light of the excessive speed.