3 Killed When Buffalo Flyer Crashes Near Watsontown, 1941

 

Friday August 1 1941

Engineer, fireman, and road foreman were killed when the craft Buffalo Flyer struck the wreckage of a truck that had been stuck at the grade crossing by a freight train near Watsontown.

The dead are: C.K. Shaibley of Williamsport, foreman; Frank E. Snyder of Sunbury, Engineer; Mr. McHenry, Fireman, of Sunbury.

Two P. R. R. Employes From Sun-bury, One From Williamsport Scalded To Death When East-Bound Freight And 12-C a Passenger Train Collide Near Watsontown Brick Works At 1:10 This Morning. 

175 Passenger Shaken Up 

Three Pennsylvania railroad employees, including two from Sunbury, were killed and 175 passengers on a west-bound passenger train were shaken up when the 12-car "Buffalo Flyer" and a freight train crashed on the Pennsylvania railroad one mile east of Watsontown near the Watsontown Brick Co. plant this morning at 1 :10 o'clock.

 The dead, all of whom were riding in the passenger engine, are C. K. Shaibley, Williamsport, road foreman of engines. Frank Snyder, Sunbury, engineer. Mr. M'cHenry, Sunbury, fireman. All three were veteran members of the Pennsylvania Railroad company. The men men were scalded to death. 

Highway Truck Involved

 A State Highway trailer truck carrying a huge shovel, stalled on the tracks at a crossing about an eighth of a mile below the Watsontown Brick Works, owned by Charles E. Fisher, Bloom street, and set the stage for the worst railroad accident to occur within this area for many years. 

The truck, enroute from McEwensville, stalled in the center of the track and its driver immediately attempted to flag the approaching east-bound freight. His efforts failed, however, and the freight engine struck the trailer-truck and dragged it along for almost an eighth of a mile before the second terrific crash occurred with the west-bound "Buffalo Flyer." 

The impact derailed half a dozen of the cars on the passenger train, including the mail and baggage coaches. Miraculously enough the passengers on the "575" passenger train escaped without serious injuries. The "Flyer" travels thru to its final destination at Buffalo, N.Y. 

Thousands Come To Scene

 Despite the lateness of the hour, thousands of people were attracted to the scene. Officials of the Pennsylvania road made arrangements to have the bodies of the three dead men removed to their respective home communities, Williamsport and Sunbury, while preliminary moves to the wreckage from the tracks were started at 4 o'clock. 

It is probable that the clean-up work will require several days to complete. Several of the cars were knocked up against the brick works, while the mail coach lay to the north of the tracks against a telephone pole. 

Emergency units were summoned from Milton, Sunbury, and Williamsport to help clear the debris from the track, and help transfer some of the cars. The trailer truck was totally demolished, and total damages will prob ably exceed the $5,000 mark.

Temporary communication lines were set up near the scene shortly before 4 o'clock, while Pennsylvania State Motor Policemen from the Milton barracks were checking up on the ownership, and operator of the Highway truck. Deputy Coroner L. R. Townsend, Milton, released the bodies of the three into the custody of the railroad 'company. All three man Snyder, Shaibley, 'and McHenry are well-known to railroad men in this vicinity

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