I shall next call your attention to accidents caused by carelessness
of enginemen which should not have happened and with proper care and
thoughtfulness will not occur in the future:
George Bowman, engineman, killed at Holstein, on Sept. 9; caused
by engine running off the track, this being the end of the road,
and the first time Bowman or any of the crew on the train, other
than one brakeman, had been over the line. A section foreman, who
was sent along as pilot, claims to have told Bowman when he came
to the Y, north of the depot, but Bowman paid no attention to the
warning, and made no effort to stop. This engineman had been on
duty for 14 hours when he got to Creever, at about 12 o'clock
midnight, and asked for 8 hours' sleep, but was sent out again in
four hours and a half.
Michael O'Neill, turntable man, injured Oct 17, at Patten; he was
pushing turntable with engine on it, and while doing so engine ran
off before he got it to the stall where it was to go in; struck
him on left shoulder.
Ralph Burnham, rear brakeman, train No. 55, seriously injured at
Bradley, night of Dec. 21, by being caught between the tender of
engine No. 641 and the mail car. This man was standing on east
side of track and started to cross over to the west side to help
couple the air, steam hose and whistle. He knew the engine was
coming back, but owing to the amount of steam escaping from it did
not realize it was so close, and before he could get over was
caught. The steam was escaping from the steam hose at the back of
the tender. It is customary for some engineers to have this steam
blowing off as they are backing up to make couplings; others shut
off the steam, as when it is blowing off it is almost impossible
for the brakeman to see. Why should not all enginemen shut it off?
In a double track district, if you are running on the wrong track and
there are any section men working on the track or employees or others
walking or running on the track, you should act upon the theory that
even if they know you are coming they will think you are on the track
usually occupied, and until you know that they actually understand the
conditions you must be prepared to stop in time to prevent injuring
them. And if two trains are passing on the double track and there is
anyone around, don't let it be your fault that an injury occurs
because ample warning was not given of the approach of two trains
instead of one.
John Cooper, section laborer, struck and killed by engine No.
1564, April 16, at 9:00 a.m., near Steuben, while working on the
track, cleaning the crossing, engine was running on south-bound
track. Although running on the wrong track, engineman is unable to
say whether or not he whistled for the crossing. No one on the
engine saw the man.