Wreck Of The Oyster Train, Williamsport 1901

 
The "Oyster Train" regularly brought shipments of oysters from Baltimore to central Pennsylvania.  Pulled by Engine #1710, the #83 train fell into Lycoming Creek on December 15 1901,  when the bridge it was crossing enroute to Lock Haven gave away.

A heavy rain had begun to fall on Saturday December 14th. It was reported to be the heaviest rain experienced in years, and "in consequence, the streams and rivulets were swelled to raging torrents, over flowing their banks and causing much damage to the lands, carrying away fences and destroying property."

The river rose on Sunday morning, overflowing its bank and flooding low lying places.  It reached a flood mark of over twenty feet at Lewisburg, the highest since 1894. 

On display at the Taber Museum in Williamsport

On Sunday December 15th,  the oyster train "pulled out of Williamsport shortly after six o-clock and was running fully 25 miles an hour when it made its fatal plunge into the swift and icy waters of the creek" 

"When the engine and leading oars went down the air pipe broke and set the automatic air brake so that the train came to a stop with a shock, moving very little after the brakes set. Not a wheel left the track except for those of the cars that went into the creek.

 The conductor and tear brakeman, who were in , the caboose, were thrown violently against the end of the cab and received severe bruises and cuts, the conductor being badly cut over the left eye. As soon as they could gather themselves together they jumped to the ground and saw at a glance that the engine and front of the train were gone. Realizing what bad happened they hurried forward and called the missing men but there was no answer.

 When satisfied they could not aid their comrades they walked back down the track and re ported at the offices. As soon as possible an engine was sent up the track and drew the balance of the ill-fated train back down the line away from the scene of the disaster. 

The bridge was new about five years ago, at which time it was completely re built, masonry and all. It was what is known as a steel girder bridge, and was composed of four spans. Apparently the pier nearest the eastern end of the bridge bad been undermined and washed away and the two spans at that end went down with the train. Later the second pier went, taking the third span so that but one span remains. 

One car lodged a short distance below the bridge, two others piled up against the Philadelphia and Reading bridge and others were to be seen scattered along between that and the old aqueduct." - The Northumberland Press

It took two weeks for the flood waters to recede enough for the engine to be pulled up from the creek.

Sign in the Taber House Museum, Williamsport Pa

Train No 83, the Oyster Train, was one of the fastest trains on the division.  It started at Baltimore, ran west over the Philadelphia and Erie from Williamsport.  It "made passenger time" because it carried perishable goods.

Three crew members, John Martz, Frederick Glass, and George Harley,  were drowned in the accident.   All 3 were residents of Sunbury Pa.  The conductor and the brakeman were in the rear of the train, and were saved.

An inquest was held on December 24th, in regards to the death of "John H. Horley" (George Harley?) of Sunbury, a brakeman killed in the wreck.

"And we would further say that his death was cause through the neglect of the official and employees of the Pennsylvania railroad, on duty at the time, in not preventing the train from proceeding at a time when it was known to said officials that the bridge was in a dangerous condition for any train to pass over."

The Lewisburg Journal reported, on Dec 20, "At New Columbia barrels of beer and oysters, with other perishable goods, were caught on Sunday as they came floating down the river from the wrecked train which went through the bridge at Williamsport"

 The flood waters washed tons of oysters in cars and kegs downriver, and newspapers reported that the residents of South Williamsport feasted on oysters for weeks.

Display at the Taber Museum, Williamsport