12-19-2009, 04:20 PM
Part I
On September 15 1958 after two and 1/2 million trains crossing the CNJ's 40,000 ton bridge over Newark Bay, the Central had it's worst wreck ever. Normally the bridge saw an average of 139 trains per day but the east bound Bay head to Jersey City train # 3314 plunged off the south western open draw and plunged into 40 feet of water just west of Bayonne NJ.
At 9:45 am local time the dredge "Sand Captain" heading south along the west channel of the Newark Bay approached the rail crossing at the south end of Bayonne and signaled for permission to pass. The next train, #3314 was due at 10:01 am. The dredge has the right of way under maritime law, and was too high to for the 35 foot high water clearance of the lift spans without them being raised. Patrick Corcoran (the operator on duty) set all signals to stop, opened all derails on the approaches, and opened the two 310 foot lift spans on the western side of the bridge to 108 feet. This was about 30 feet of the maximum height, but plenty high enough to clear the dredge.
This was all witnessed by a small track crew of 4 men on track #3 300 feet east of the lift spans.
A view of the operators cabin of DY draw.
Fallowing Co. practices Corcoran went out on the platform outside of the operators cabin to watch the dredge pass under the bridge and check the location of #3314, witch should be just coming to a stop at Signal R26 on track #1. Instead he watched in horror as the train bounced over the derail and rattled along the ties, then plunged into the the dark waters of the bay. Two GP7's #1532-#1526 and two coaches #1004 (empty dead head to Jersey City) and #1100 carrying over 30 passengers sunk to the bottom of the channel. A third coach #932 snagged the bridge pilings and hung 1/2 in the watter. The last two cars coach #1062 and combine #293 skidded to a stop just short of the open draw. The dredge captain put his ship into full astern to avoid having the train crash on top of them. The train just missed the ship it passed through the bridge.
A view of the open derail just after the accident.If you look just past the derail you will see where the train skipped along the wooden guardrail.
On September 15 1958 after two and 1/2 million trains crossing the CNJ's 40,000 ton bridge over Newark Bay, the Central had it's worst wreck ever. Normally the bridge saw an average of 139 trains per day but the east bound Bay head to Jersey City train # 3314 plunged off the south western open draw and plunged into 40 feet of water just west of Bayonne NJ.
At 9:45 am local time the dredge "Sand Captain" heading south along the west channel of the Newark Bay approached the rail crossing at the south end of Bayonne and signaled for permission to pass. The next train, #3314 was due at 10:01 am. The dredge has the right of way under maritime law, and was too high to for the 35 foot high water clearance of the lift spans without them being raised. Patrick Corcoran (the operator on duty) set all signals to stop, opened all derails on the approaches, and opened the two 310 foot lift spans on the western side of the bridge to 108 feet. This was about 30 feet of the maximum height, but plenty high enough to clear the dredge.
This was all witnessed by a small track crew of 4 men on track #3 300 feet east of the lift spans.
Fallowing Co. practices Corcoran went out on the platform outside of the operators cabin to watch the dredge pass under the bridge and check the location of #3314, witch should be just coming to a stop at Signal R26 on track #1. Instead he watched in horror as the train bounced over the derail and rattled along the ties, then plunged into the the dark waters of the bay. Two GP7's #1532-#1526 and two coaches #1004 (empty dead head to Jersey City) and #1100 carrying over 30 passengers sunk to the bottom of the channel. A third coach #932 snagged the bridge pilings and hung 1/2 in the watter. The last two cars coach #1062 and combine #293 skidded to a stop just short of the open draw. The dredge captain put his ship into full astern to avoid having the train crash on top of them. The train just missed the ship it passed through the bridge.
My other car is a locomotive, ARHS restoration crew