Search results

  • CSV Spreadsheet
(1 - 1 of 1)
Wreck, Pennsylvania Railroad Train, Federal Express, Washington Terminal, Washington, D.C. January 15, 1953
Title
Wreck, Pennsylvania Railroad Train, Federal Express, Washington Terminal, Washington, D.C. January 15, 1953
Date
1953-02-04, 1953-02-26
Description
Supplemental report from Special Agent in Charge for Butte, MT with a report on an interview with Mr. Frank A. Rowe Sr. of Boise, ID
Text
Director, FBI February 26, 1953 SAC, Butte (98-342) //// WRECK, PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD TRAIN, FEDERAL EXPRESS, WASHINGTON TERMINAL, WASHINGTON, D. 0., JANUARY 15, 1953 4 ReBu1et to Mr. FRANK A. ROWE, Srl, Boise, Idaho, February .9 1953 . On February 16, 1953, Mr. FRANK A. ROWE, Sr., 1615 Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho, was interviewed and advised that he is pros~ ently fifty-eight years of age and e...
Show moreDirector, FBI February 26, 1953 SAC, Butte (98-342) //// WRECK, PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD TRAIN, FEDERAL EXPRESS, WASHINGTON TERMINAL, WASHINGTON, D. 0., JANUARY 15, 1953 4 ReBu1et to Mr. FRANK A. ROWE, Srl, Boise, Idaho, February .9 1953 . On February 16, 1953, Mr. FRANK A. ROWE, Sr., 1615 Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho, was interviewed and advised that he is pros~ ently fifty-eight years of age and employed as Heating Superin- tendent, State of Idaho Department of Highways, 27th and Fairviow Avenue, Boise, Idaho. Mr. ROWE stated that until 1929 he had been employed as a railroad engineer with the Union Pacific Railroad and while so engaged during March of 1927 or 1928 had been operating a Series 2500 steam locomotive hauling approximately sixty loaded freight cars on the eastbound run from Oregon to King Hill, Idaho. Mr. ROWE had stopped his train at Nyssa, Oregon, with no difficulty and had continued on a distance of about fifteen miles to Notus, Idaho, at which point he was to pull onto a siding. As he approached the siding at a recalled speed of about twenty miles an hour, Mr. ROWE stated he noticed he had slightly over seventy pounds pressure on his brake line, standard for freight trains and forty pounds less than utilized on passenger trains, but that at the time of applying the brakes his only response was of about one second duration as compared to the eightwor ten~second response ordinarily found on a train having the number of cars as was being hauled. As a result of the one~ second response, Mr. ROWE advised he was aware that he had bra:e~ age in only one or two cars immediately behind the locomotive and that the rest of the cars were not being affected. with the momentum of these cars pushing, the train continued for two and three-quarters miles before coming to a halt. Q2’ * ?' ARCHED123 £«":mDExE RKM:mJw cc: p2’- Washington Field 0 .... TO: Director, FBI RE: WRECK, PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD TRAIN, FEDERAL EXPRESS, WASHINGTON TERMINAL, WASHINGTON, D. 0., JANUARY 15, 1953 2/26/53 As soon as possible after getting his train off the main line, Mr. ROWE asked the train conductor what the brake pressure had been in the caboose and had been informed that there, as in the locomotive, the pressure had been over seventy pounds, con- firming Mr, ROWE's suspicion that the line was stopped up some- where near the third car. Accordingly, Mr. ROWE disconnected the air hose between the second and third car and, tilting the<hose, could hear some~ thing rattle inside and, disconnecting the hose from the head end of the third car, discovered an ice ball large enough in size to block the hose at the end where it joined onto the hose from the second car. Mr. ROWE stated that it was his opinion that, when he applied his brakes, the pressure pulled the ice ball up against the smaller opening of the air hose and prevented brake ictign on the cars behind that point with the resultant inability o s op. Mr. ROWE stated he had informed various railroad officials of his findings, but they had appeared disinterested and no rec- ognition was taken of this possible cause for a mechanical failure. Mr. ROWE had no theory as to how moisture could have collected in the line, later to form into a solid ice ball, but pointed out that it had happened and that any subsequent investigation would fail to disclose such a condition inasmuch as the ice would have melted away. Mr. ROWE pointed out further that in reading of the wreck of the Pennsylvania train at the Washington terminal, he had formed the opinion that such an ice ball could have conceivably blocked the brake line as it had in his case, and was desirous of calling the matter to the attention of the Bureau for possible assistance in investigating the cause of the wreck. Mr. ROWE was thanked for his interest in this matter and assured that his suggestion would receive every consideration.
Show less

Mercantile Library Collections Directory

Mercantile Special Collections Directory

Barriger Library Collections Directory

Barriger Special Collections Directory

Pott Library Collections Directory

Pott Special Collections Directory