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Author
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Posting
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09/03/01 11:13 |
D. T. Sprau |
The rose bowl wreck was
not necessarily the fault of the engineer, Harvey Murray, who was a good man
and did not deserve the kind of exit he got.
However he elected to retire on the spot -- did not even go to the
investigation, I am told. Eastbound
(south) psgr train 408 was being run over westward main track around a
previous wreck. There is no block signal protection when going against the
current of traffic. Murray receive orders at Sumner instructing him to use
westward siding at Puyallyp to afford even greater clearance to rerailing
activities. Somehow, or for whatever reason, he reached the west switch
Puyallup before he completely read the order, and, unfortunately, a switchtender had already lined the switch
for the siding. The whole thing was very unfortunate because I think if
Murray had not retired and had attended the investigation, certain facts
would have been brought out that would have resulted in a more proportionate
distribution of blame. That happened
40 years ago. Timetable directions have changed twice on that line since that
time, if anyone is confused by my description of direction. Rose Bowl Harvey
Murray train 408 Puyallup
Washington Compiler C Frissell |
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09/03/01 12:20 |
Don Shane |
I'm 78 years old and have
been retired since 1983 and may not remember too good but I was working 3rd
trick, the morning of the "rose bowl wreck" and the engr on #408
got his orders right out of King St Seattle and had lots of time to read and
digest the contents. Old "Harv" must have been absorbed in
something other that driving the train. He may have gotten the reverse track
order at Sumner but the orders out of Seattle told him the Eastward track at
Puyallup was out of service and he would use a yard track thru Puyallup. If
he was tlhinking, at all, he'd have to wonder how he was going to get on the
Westward track to use the yard track off the Westward. main. Just putting in
my 2 cents worth. Rose Bowl Harvey
Murray train 408 Puyallup Washington
Sumner Compiler C Frissell |