Cumbres Pass Wreck of 1953

Got an interesting call from a lady who ordered a C&TS video, and told me her husband worked for the D&RGW, and was involved in a wreck. She did not have a date but knew it was 1953. She said they could not find any info about it. So I said I would ask you guys. The only one I could think of was the 497-498 dowgrade doubleheader sounded a little similar, but she said only one engine - but wasn't sure.

Clues are these.

She said her husband was Bill Pippenger. He was the fireman. Sizemore was the engineer, and apparently he was drunk according to her.

She said her daughter was born the 22nd of February, and the wreck was before that in 1953. The engine turned over and they crawled out the side window.

She seemed to think it was on the Chama side, and maybe downgrade on a steep section.

They had several cars of steel rods and they kept piling up behind them and through or near the cab.

Pippenger had only worked on the railroad a week or two and this was his first or second job

Anything here sound familiar. I will let the experts check into it. I am off for boiler work tomorrow(Angiogram), but that is all the info I have.

Thanks,
Greg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2017 01:15PM by Greg Scholl.