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| Title: |
Diagram 1, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Montgomery Tower was the first interlocking plant west of Aurora on the CB&Q double-track mainline to Galesburg, IL. The single-track Streator Branch heads off to the southwest then and crossed the CRI&P at Ottawa, IL about 40 miles down the branch. The pictures in this album were taken the morning after the wreck, September 28,1964. The Rock Island was repairing its Des Plaines River Bridge in Joliet thus the detouring trains to Chicago up and trains to the west down the CB&Q branch. As this diagram shows three trains, all passenger, were at Montgomery at the time of the wreck. The first was an eastbound Rock Island waiting at a home signal (the signal on the signal bridge to allow a train to enter the interlocking plant) to come off the branch (upper right on the diagram). It was CRI&P Extra 656 the combined #4 and #10. The second was a Rock Island westbound on Track 1, the normally westbound track (both tracks were signaled in both directions), waiting at a home signal to go down the branch (lower left on the diagram). The third was CB&Q #3, the combined Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr and Royal Zephyr, westbound at 59 mph on the normally eastbound track. Due to an error in upgrading the plant to electric-powered turnouts compromised the integrity of the plant and turnout #14 was improperly set for the branch and the Zephyr veered off into the waiting Rock Island train. Indications were that the operator had no indication of this error. The wreck took place at 10:49 p.m. on the 27th. The known diesel numbers are shown on the chalk diagram drawn right after the wreck. Some computer additions have just been made to the diagram. On the diagram the interlocking plant is between signal bridges drawn like an uppercase letter I across the tracks. The importance of the track that curves behind the tower labeled to SHEEP YARDS will become apparent. Three CB&Q employees (two in the lead CB&Q engine) and one in the RI lead engine were killed. 200 hundred passengers and other employees claimed injuries but amazingly only five remained in a hospital more than one day. ) I was the night operator leverman at the tower two weeks previously. See: http://railfan44.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=771462 The operator that night collapsed of a nervous breakdown soon after the wreck. Some of the details in this album are from the October 1965 TRAINS Magazine article titled The Accident That Couldnt Happen just brought to my attention by Mike Woodruff. The article goes into some detail on how interlocking plants work and what went wrong that horrid night. Here's the Chicago Tribune Article with pictures: http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid=0.1&thid=11ef75ca86297017&mt=application%2Fpdf&pli=1 |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:07 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Views: |
7013 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Diagram 2, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
This diagram shows the situation as I found it on the morning of the 28th. The second CRI&P train had been removed and the first CB&Q diesel though shown was mostly gone. Two steam wrecking cranes with their trains are present. The 27 pictures in this album are numbered and the number and direction of each picture is shown on this diagram. The Zephyr had three units, four stored mail cars (J), two baggage cars (B), three coaches (C), two slumber coaches (S), and a heavyweight diner (D). The headend cars accordioned, no doubt absorbing much of the impact and protecting the passenger cars somewhat. The lead CB&Q diesel jackknifed and the first Rock Island diesel took to the air. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:10 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
4831 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 01, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Rerailing the last Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr car, a coach. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:11 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
RollingStock,Wreck |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
3233 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 02, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
CB&Q Heavyweight Diner and CZ Slumber Coach "Silver Craig" (see comment below) |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:12 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
RollingStock |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
3005 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Picture 03, Mustard and Catsup On Your Hot Dog? |
| Description: |
The car to the left is DRG&W Diner "Silver Gorge" the other is CB&Q Slumber Coach "Silver Crag". Both are California Zephyr cars. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:13 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
RollingStock |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
3377 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 04, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
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| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:14 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Views: |
3067 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Picture 05, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Zephyr Headend Cars |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:15 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Views: |
3075 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 06, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
7 of 9 E-units involved. See closeup pictures for details. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:17 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
3387 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 07, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Repaired and became BN 9987. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:19 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CBQ 9987A(E9A) |
| Views: |
4817 Comments: 2 |
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| Title: |
Picture 08, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
E7A 9922B was subsequently scrapped. She was 19 and obviously not worth the repair expense. E9A 9987A at the right however was returned to service. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:20 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CBQ 9922B(E7A) CBQ 9987A(E9A) |
| Views: |
7775 Comments: 2 |
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| Title: |
PICTURE 09, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
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| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:21 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
2975 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 10, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
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| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:22 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CRIP 651(E8A) |
| Views: |
3865 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Picture 11, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
This diesel was later used in suburban service. See for example: http://railfan44.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=665054 |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:23 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CRIP 751(AB6) |
| Views: |
4086 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 12, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
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| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:24 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CRIP 638B(E7B) CRIP 750(AB6) |
| Views: |
3595 Comments: 2 |
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| Title: |
Picture 13, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Note turned rail. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:00:03 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CRIP 638B(E7B) |
| Views: |
2322 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 14, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
This looks like the cab to the first Rock Island unit. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:27 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
Roster,Wreck |
| Locomotives: |
CBQ 212(GP7) |
| Views: |
3446 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 15, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck, the First Train Through |
| Description: |
Using the "Sheep Yards" track down and through the yard and back up to the Aurora Depot. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:28 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
Wreck |
| Locomotives: |
CBQ 9990(E9A) |
| Views: |
2715 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 16, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
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| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:28 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
RollingStock |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
2588 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 17, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
First train through using the sheep yard lead track. Pieces on the ground are parts of the lead Zephyr E-unit. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:30 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
Wreck |
| Locomotives: |
CBQ 9990(E9A) |
| Views: |
2972 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Picture 18, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
One of the first trains through using the Sheep Yard lead track. Parts on the ground are from the lead Zephyr diesel. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:30 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CBQ 9986A(E9A) |
| Views: |
2658 Comments: 2 |
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| Title: |
Picture 19, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Cab of Zephyr lead diesel. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:32 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CBQ 9920A(E7A) |
| Views: |
2788 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 20, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Zephyr headend cars. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:33 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
1331 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 21, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
First train through on Sheep Yard lead track and Zephyr Baggage car. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:33 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
Wreck |
| Locomotives: |
CBQ 9990(E9A) |
| Views: |
2615 Comments: 3 |
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| Title: |
Picture 22, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Last CB&Q baggage car and first two coaches. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:34 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
1110 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 23, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Second CB&Q coach and two Slumber Coachs. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:35 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
1601 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 24, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Looking west from tower (screen on window). One crane and its cars are to the left. Sheep Yard lead track is center with rods from tower to its left. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:36 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
1956 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Picture 25, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
Looking west from tower (screen on window). One crane and its cars are to the left. One of the first trains is on the Sheep Yard lead track. A similar shot taken at ground level earlier in the month is at: http://railfan44.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=544659 |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:37 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CBQ 9993(E9A) |
| Views: |
2308 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 26, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
First train through on Sheep Yard lead track behind the tower. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:37 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
Yard |
| Locomotives: |
CBQ 9990(E9A) |
| Views: |
2062 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Picture 27, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck |
| Description: |
First train through on Sheep Yard lead track behind the tower. |
| Photo Date: |
9/28/1964 Upload Date: 6/15/2007 10:08:26 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
Wreck,Passenger,Action |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
2519 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
CB&Q Montgomery Tower 15 Days Before the Wreck |
| Description: |
These were called strong-arm plants and sometimes you had to use a leg too as demonsurated in this self portrait. |
| Photo Date: |
9/12/1964 Upload Date: 6/20/2007 8:02:15 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
Action |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
3562 Comments: 4 |
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| Title: |
Today, CB&Q/CRI&P Wreck 9/28/1964 |
| Description: |
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| Photo Date: |
1/1/2007 Upload Date: 6/16/2007 11:46:05 PM |
| Location: |
Montgomery, IL |
| Author: |
Marty Bernard |
| Categories: |
RollingStock |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
3843 Comments: 0 |
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