Two Trains Collide, Selinsgrove, March 25 1900

March 25 1900

"A train of 35 loaded freight cars started at a down grade run at Selinsgrove.  The runaways collided with an engine that was going up grade, and produced a wreck such as had not been seen on the Selinsgrove & Lewistown Branch.  More than a dozen loaded freight cars piled themselves over the top of the engine and obstructed travel all day Sunday. Everyone on the trains had power to get out of the way of the wreck of matter and crush of engine and freight cars." - The Sentinel and Republican

Railroad Wreck on the S. & L. R. R. at Selinsgrove. 

" On last Sunday morning between the hours of four and five o'clock, one of the most costly wrecks that ever occurred at this end of the line happened in the yard here. A freight from Lewistown arrived at four o'clock; the engines were uncoupled from the train, west of the Canning factory, and went to the turn table

to turn and take water. Where the train was left is a heavy down grade, There not being enough brakes put on, the heavy train started and came down the yard at a good speed. Conductor Luck was coming into the yard with a train from Sunbury and about three hundred yards east of the depot he discovered the approach of the runaway train on the same track and gave the alarm in time to save the lives of the engineer, Bobert Krebs; fireman, Charles Gemberling and brakeman, Harry Gemberliug, with who the conductor jumped from the engine.

 In a moment the crash came wrecking the yard engine number of cars that were loaded with coal, slate, and prop timber. 

The wreck crew from Lewistown arrived about eight o'clock and worked the entire day clearing the main track. The following day the wreck was cleared tip. 

Hundreds of people visited the scene on Sunday and watched the clearing of the tracks. The loss to the rail road company will amount to many thousand dollars. Nothing like it has occurred at this end of the line in the history of the rail road."

The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune

Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

29 Mar 1900, Thu  •  Page 1

Find an Index of "Railroad Incidents" in the Susquehanna Valley here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/an-index-of-railroad-incidents-in.html

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Stories & History From Selinsgrove, Pa

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