INFAMOUS CROSSING
Southbound Conrail River Line freight SEWA-5 with 121 cars is about to cross Gilchrest Road in Congers N.Y. On 03-24-1972 this was the site of a horrific crash involving a packed school bus and a northbound Penn Central freight. At 7:55am WV-1 with U25B 2653 plus 2 other locos with 83 cars in tow plowed into a school bus that had tried to beat the train over the crossing.The total death toll was 5 students killed and 44 injured. The crossing at the time had only crossbucks and no other warning devices.The driver of the bus was charged with criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to 5 years probation. Sad how poor judgement caused so much suffering for the families and crew. In the above photo SEWA-5 has 6424 SD40-2 ,2888 ex NYC U30B, and 3275 ex Reading GP40-2. Photo taken 11-16-1978 Howard Kent Jr.
INFAMOUS CROSSING
Southbound Conrail River Line freight SEWA-5 with 121 cars is about to cross Gilchrest Road in Congers N.Y. On 03-24-1972 this was the site of a horrific crash involving a packed school bus and a northbound Penn Central freight. At 7:55am WV-1 with U25B 2653 plus 2 other locos with 83 cars in tow plowed into a school bus that had tried to beat the train over the crossing.The total death toll was 5 students killed and 44 injured. The crossing at the time had only crossbucks and no other warning devices.The driver of the bus was charged with criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to 5 years probation. Sad how poor judgement caused so much suffering for the families and crew. In the above photo SEWA-5 has 6424 SD40-2 ,2888 ex NYC U30B, and 3275 ex Reading GP40-2. Photo taken 11-16-1978 Howard Kent Jr.