Re: (erielack) The March 9, 1973 head-on wreck at NJ tower

[AL TILLOTSON <CPLNAJT_@_NJTRANSIT.COM>]

There was a substantial explanation of the wreck posted here on May 3, 1999.  

To summarize that post: the psgr train involved was the outfit which deadheaded
west in the early morning from Suffern X51, changed ends at Greycourt, and ran
revenue Monroe-Hoboken as #50. 

Frequently X51 ran wrong main to NJ (this was 251 territory) to avoid
interfering with CX99 coming west.

On this morning it was foggy as X51 approached NJ on track 2.  Fast closing in
also on NJ was 99 on track 1.  Apparently the deadhead assumed he'd have the
dwarf.

Instead the route was lined for CX99 up the Graham Line.  X51 wasn't expecting
this, and compounded by poor visibility, didn't see the dwarf signal, and ran
through the switch into the interlocking, stopping when he realized he was
headed up the Graham.  Into his rear came 99, which had been running at
authorized speed approaching NJ, as they had a favorable aspect at NJ's distant
signal, passing it before X51 fouled the interlocking.

Thankfully, no fatalities.

>
>My records show that EL/NJT Comet I cars 1502, 1522, 1607, 1755, and 1758 were
 
>involved in a head-on wreck with a freight at Newburgh Jct on 3-9-73.  Lead
unit
>on the freight was U-33C 3305, which lost its cab in the wreck.  All of the 
>commuter cars were reportedly scrapped a few years later, never to be rebuilt.
>
>
>Questions:
>
>
>Where in relation to the tower did the wreck happen?
>
>What were the symbols of the freight and commuter job involved in this wreck? 

>
>Given the orientation of the commuter power (train was in push mode), I assume
the
>commuter was eastbound(?) and the freight must have been westbound(?).  Given
that
>the commuter was deadheading, the wreck probably occurred in the evening?
>
>What other freight locomotives (if any) were with the 3305?
>
>What U-34CH was shoving the commuter?
>
>When did 3305 come out of Hornell repaired?  On Pg. 91 of Preston Cook's book,
there
>is a pic of 3305 detouring on the LV in July 1974, and the 3305 has a gray
roof then 
>(a sign of repainting). So the unit was back on the road by 1974.
>
>Did 3305 retain dual control stands after repairs?
>
>Was a specific cause determined?  Someone run a signal?
>
>Were there any crew fatalities?
>

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