Re: White Pass #114 Accident

Hi Bill,
The term "Runaway" is too simplistic and does not get to the real cause. I'm in agreement for the WP&Y being tight mouth since the cause was not clearly found in initial inspection. And I agree that our NTSB also takes years to make a final report, such as ICC practice, but that is usually reviews of initial findings. Strangly, in this case no initial findings to report.
If it was a train out of control, there was no word of the crew trying to apply hand brakes, except maybe that was why the conductor was on the front platform. Were there flattened wheels on the locomotive? No one tried to reach the brakes on the cars by climbing over the loads.
Who knows if they did a brake test before leaving Log Cabin? The outcome might call for time recorders on all WP&Y engines moving in Canada.
Very puzzling wreck on very good ng track so we all will be interested in the outcome of the investigation. It could be as simple as a over loaded car, or a broken side-bearing plate. Not likely that any of the crew did anything wrong as it looks now.
Is this the first NG related death since Argent Lumber Locomotive #5 blew up in 1955 killing two men, or was there any D&RGW ng enginemen deaths since then?