The Newsletter of the Red River Valley Railroad Historical Society, Inc.

 Gone But Not Forgotten: T&P Train Wreck at Jefferson in 1947

At 3:15 am in a dense fog on Saturday October 25, 1947, while passengers slept in their Pullman berths, T&P passenger train First 15 jumped the track near Jefferson, Texas. According to the official Interstate Commerce Commission investigation report, the first class passenger train was going nearly 70 mph in a curve where the maximum authorized speed was 30 mph. The fireman, W. W. Darr of Dallas, was killed and 70 people were injured including 4 railway mail clerks, 1 express manager, 1 train porter and 2 train-service employees. Many of the injured were rushed to the T&P Hospital in Marshall.

 The train consisted of 4-8-2 engine 907, 1 mail car, 1 baggage car, 2 coaches and 3 sleeping cars. It was headed west from Texarkana to Ft. Worth. It had just departed from Payne, 7.4 miles east of Jefferson, 13 minutes late. The accident occurred one mile east of the Jefferson station.

 As First 15 approached the curve, the headlight was lighted brightly, the throttle was half open and the enginemen were maintaining a lookout ahead. Fog prevailed throughout the area between Texarkana and Jefferson. The engineer said he became confused as to his location because the dense fog restricted visibility. He did not see the 30-mile per hour speed-limit sign located .8 (8/10) mile east of the curve. When he realized he was close to the curve, he immediately closed the throttle and placed the brake valve in emergency position. He thought the speed was reduced to about 55 mph when he entered the curve. The engine thrust hard several times, alternately to the right and to the left, then overturned.

 Examination of the speed-recorder tape of the engine indicated that the speed of First 15 was 68 mph at a point 1,300 feet east of the derailment site, then the speed increased to 69 mph at the point of derailment. When engine 907 was examined after the accident the throttle lever was in closed position, the automatic and the independent brake valves were in running position, and the reverse lever was in position for 25 percent cut-off in forward motion. The ICC report concluded that this accident was caused by excessive speed on a curve.

 According to The Shreveport Times of October 26: “The engine, on its side, was partially buried in the dirt siding by the force of the crash. A fuel car (tender) and a baggage car were partially telescoped, and a gaping forty foot sheet of steel was scalped from the top of the baggage car. Two chair cars, in which most of the passengers were injured, were in the middle of the train and three Pullman cars were at the rear…Passengers in the Pullman “got off the lightest” according to Dee Hoskins, Pullman car porter. Most had already retired and were merely bounced in the aisles by the impact…A Negro woman, whose home borders the track (see photo below), said she was awakened by the crash and was first to reach the scene. She said she saw the engineer staggering around with a broken arm and “bleeding all over”. The injured were starting to make their way out of the wreckage and “a lot of them were screaming and crying”.

 The great Langston McEachern photos, the newspaper article and the Interstate Commerce Commission Report used in this article are courtesy of the LSU-Shreveport Noel Memorial Library Archives and Special Collections.

The Bulletin Board - Events and Information for Railroaders

Society Meeting on December 19 at the Glen Retirement Village

The next meeting will be held on Friday, December 19 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at the Glen Retirement Village, 403 East Flournoy Lucas Road. The Glen Retirement Village is located on the south side of Flournoy Lucas Road between Ellerbe Road and Youree Drive (Highway 1). (Please do not confuse it with the Live Oak Retirement Home located on the north side of Flournoy Lucas Road.)

 We will discuss an opportunity to exhibit artifacts at the Spring Street Museum in 2009, current Rose Center activities, museum site possibilities, plans for 2009, etc. A program will also be presented (At the November meeting we saw a “big screen” movie of Cotton Belt 819 in action).

 For information or directions call Dave Bland (470-5933).

 Christmas in Roseland at the American Rose Center

As in previous years, Society members will operate the train at the Rose Center on Friday and Saturday nights until the event ends on December 24. For information call Gary Fox at 631-9164.

Spring Street Historical Museum

This neat little museum, located in a very historic building at 525 Spring Street in Shreveport, has a current exhibit called “Jingle Bells and Shotgun Shells: Christmas Traditions & Where They Came From”. In January they will start Transportation History theme exhibits with “Steamboats and Wagon Trains” in January, “Railroads” in February and followed by Automobiles and Airplanes. Call them at (318) 424-0964 or see their website at www.springstreetmuseum.com for hours, information and directions. Debra Helton is the Curator.

 The President’s Message – December 2008

Hello Railfans:

 Well another year has come and almost gone. I hope you had a better year than mine. Besides losing my mother and father I also lost four other family members. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your expressions of sympathy over my loss. I would also like to thank you for the flowers you sent to mother and daddy. Many of you came and paid your final respects to my parents. Thanks so very much.

 Melinda and Roger West did not get to have a train show this year because Melinda was called to active duty following hurricane Ike. I hope they can have their show next year. I do look forward to the train show each year.

 LaRay Cook has been sick for several months. We all hope that she gets well soon.

 The society had a good year and we made progress in several areas. We were able to put some of our collection on display at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. I would like to thank those people who helped with that project. It looks very good and should gain some publicity for our cause.

 We had two good banquets this year, fish in the Spring and seafood gumbo in the Fall. Both were well attended. Thanks to those members who helped with these events.

 Another outing was the trip to the Southern Forestry Heritage Museum down at Alexandria. We had a good group at that event. Also, we had a great time at the LSUS Pioneer Heritage Day in October.

 I hope the new year will bring better times for us all. I hope to see you at the December meeting. Remember this month is election time for officers for the coming year. I wish each one of you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

 Happy Railroading!

 Russell    

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