All stacked up
At about approximately 0200 on May 21, 1998 I was taking a lunch break with engineer Sean Ford on the nightly NECR Palmer, MA switcher number 606. We were hanging out on the back porch awaiting train 324 coming in from Brattleboro, VT, when we heard a loud crash and ran out to the parking lot to see Conrail train TV-13 on the ground at speed. Then came the rear end crashing into the head-end sending the consist of double stacks on the front off to the east side of the tracks. The cinderblock wall of Rte 32 overpass in Palmer literally caved in, and onto the right of way directly in front of TV-13. Engines 6176-6516-5650 all derailed along with the head 4 five wells of the train. The fuel tanks of all the engines ruptured and it was a plain mess, thankfully the crew was safe and the 911 call placed by the crew on the touchtone pad of the engine radio brought the Boston Line to a halt and the necessary help. I can't even image how the crew must have felt seeing this all transpire in front of their eyes. Needless to say, our day was over, and as the sun came up the carnage was incredible. The photo shows the scene from the now closed bridge at about 0900 that morning before the arrival of RJ Corman. Later that day, the crews constructed a shoo-fly around the area and traiffic was moving later that evening after 11pm. It was quite a day that didn't include much sleep for me. Thankfully in the end nobody was hurt.
All stacked up
At about approximately 0200 on May 21, 1998 I was taking a lunch break with engineer Sean Ford on the nightly NECR Palmer, MA switcher number 606. We were hanging out on the back porch awaiting train 324 coming in from Brattleboro, VT, when we heard a loud crash and ran out to the parking lot to see Conrail train TV-13 on the ground at speed. Then came the rear end crashing into the head-end sending the consist of double stacks on the front off to the east side of the tracks. The cinderblock wall of Rte 32 overpass in Palmer literally caved in, and onto the right of way directly in front of TV-13. Engines 6176-6516-5650 all derailed along with the head 4 five wells of the train. The fuel tanks of all the engines ruptured and it was a plain mess, thankfully the crew was safe and the 911 call placed by the crew on the touchtone pad of the engine radio brought the Boston Line to a halt and the necessary help. I can't even image how the crew must have felt seeing this all transpire in front of their eyes. Needless to say, our day was over, and as the sun came up the carnage was incredible. The photo shows the scene from the now closed bridge at about 0900 that morning before the arrival of RJ Corman. Later that day, the crews constructed a shoo-fly around the area and traiffic was moving later that evening after 11pm. It was quite a day that didn't include much sleep for me. Thankfully in the end nobody was hurt.