C&S Wreck today in 1914

The Colorado & Southern wreck in South Park, CO – 1 June 1914
South Park Junction was within the city limits of Denver, and within yard limits on the Colorado and Southern as well. At this point, the narrow-gauge diverged (on dual-gauge track) for South Park and Leadville. Eastbound No. 73, with engine 70 and 4 cars, had left Grant at 5.15 am on 1 June, 1914, on time, and had lost about 15 minutes as it approached Denver. Opposing trains No. 70 and No. 60 were superior by direction, and had to be met before No. 73 arrived in Denver. At Sheridan Junction, 7.6 miles west of Denver, No. 73 received order No. 1: "No 70 engine 9 wait at South Park Jct until 829 am Valverde until 833 am Denver Mills until 836 am for No. 73 engine 70." No. 73 was able to make Valverde on this order, where it pulled into the siding, connected only on the west end, and met No. 70 at about 8.30 am. It backed out, and proceeded against No. 60's schedule, which put it at South Park Junction at 8.34 am. The hope of making South Park Junction, 1.4 miles away, in two or three minutes was a very sanguine one.

No. 60 left Denver at 8.25 am, and registered at South Park Junction at 8.34 am, on time. No. 73 was almost there, but not quite, so they collided at 8.35 am 1680' west of the junction on an 8° curve, near the South Platte bridge, at no great speed, but one employee was killed. This was a simple case of failing to clear the time of a superior train.
[mysite.du.edu]

More here:

[en.wikipedia.org]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/2020 05:47AM by T A Hunter.