Strasburg Railroad 475 Accident
The smokebox of the 4-8-0 steam engine No. 475 of the Strasburg RailRoad was damaged when it collided with a tracked excavator, or “trackhoe,” that was parked on a spur on Wednesday, Nov. 2. There were no injuries, and the running-light engine continued to go along the track.
The engine operator’s failure to run the engine at “limited speed” combined with a switch that was out of alignment, apparently left open when a maintenance crew tied down the trackhoe on the spur, led to the crash.
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N&W 475 Accident
On Wednesday, an excavator struck the front end of the old Norfolk & Western 4-8-0 475 on the Strasburg Rail Road, causing damage. The incident didn’t result in any injuries.
The locomotive struck an excavator while running around its train at Paradise, Pennsylvania, according to numerous recordings of the incident that have been shared online, including a Virtual Railfan livestream. The smokebox of the locomotive was punctured by the excavator’s bucket.
What Were The Damages Of Strasburg Railroad 475 Accident?
The headlamp, some auxiliary metal parts, the front and door of the smokebox, the trackhoe’s bucket, piston, and hydraulic hoses were all damaged. Nothing essential to the operation of the steam engine, such as the front flue sheet or flues on No. 475, were punctured or damaged by the trackhoe arm.
Operating regulations define restricted speed as the ability to observe the track ahead while moving, in order to be able to stop in half the distance to an obstruction, broken rail, misaligned switch, or other irregularity, rather than as a fixed velocity. It mostly applies to yards and sidings where trains or engines are operating at a maximum speed of 10 to 15 mph. It only applies on main lines where working block signals are present and displaying that signal indication.
Strasburg Railroad Crash
According to the video, Strasburg crews typically wave to passengers on the opposite track when they go around the excursion train, which may have prevented them from noticing the misplaced switch and stopping in time.
Late in the day, the railroad sent one of its diesel switchers to transport the injured 475 back to the shop after returning the train to Strasburg with another engine. The locomotive’s front end was hidden with a blue cloth.
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