Re: White Pass #114 Accident -Maybe unstable car??

In study of the photos I see another possible cause of the wreck if the cars were not fully loaded. They are of standard gauge width cars on narrow gauge track and thereby less stable. If the lead car had been partly unloaded on one side the car could have been off-balance and roll over.
This is a good time to stress that NG railroads should never work unloading ballast whenever the contents may be frozen or likely part frozen so they will not flow properly from both sides at the same time. Even on Standard Gauge ballast car, many have rolled over when the sunny side unloads and the other hangs-up as still frozen. Men have been killed in this function. Also, very often a air-dump car is tipped and the load sticks and takes the car with it. That happened about once every five years in my region, with no damage except to some egos.
If the WP&Y car was partially loaded, or partly unloaded and then operated over the line, any irregularly could have stressed the side bearings enough on one side that wheels got up on and over a rail. Hitting the ballast and jamming in the track could pull the locomotive off with it and run it off the roadbed.
Interesting to note that the trucks on these ballast cars are secured to the cars, which is not standard practice for all SG freight car where the car only sits on a loose center pin.
Offered as another public service to the NG employees.