A question for help.

[Anonymous]

Does anybody remember the fatal head on on the Chessie System's, ex-BR&P in 1987. This occured outside Salamanca New York. Any pictures, newspaper articles or workers who worked on site. Please help me with this endeavor. Thank you so much.

Matt [8]

[tpatrick]

I remember that accident because I was the pilot of the Mercy Flight helicopter that responded to the scene. It was a particularly difficult rescue for the firemen who responded because of the sheer size of the pileup and the tremendous damage that was done. Also the accident scene was in a remote area and the snow was so deep I was unable to land there. My medic had to jump from the helicopter while I held a low hover. It took a good while to get a bulldozer to clear the snow for a landing area. One train crewmember was killed in the crash and others were injured. Years later I met the dead man's brother and we became good friends and co-workers as he, too, is a helicopter pilot employed by the same company that I now work for.

Sorry I can't help you with pictures or articles, but you might find something at the Salamanca Railroad Museum. Several years ago the museum produced a book titled "Life of the Rails" which contains one photo of the wreck and a very short paragraph about it. I don't know whether the book is still available. Give them a call.

This wasn't much, but I hope it gets you started.