1967 derailment of Shelby's

[K. P. Harrier]

For those following this thread, Paintertwice posted the following in another thread of the same title:

Paintertwice

Sorry for any confusion, And thank's for reply. Have no interest in digging up anything, but info. Cars could have  left L.A. or San Jose, But it should have been SP. I'm thinking this train didn't get to far out of the yard. the missing Shelby represents the difference between 67 model unit's sold, but not built. some guys in A Shelby club want to dig it up, some think the Railroads would NEVER bury a car...I have not ask about this in the past. Thanks again for your help <DOT & ICC> Ron

So, the mystery for him is solved ... Cajon Pass was NOT involved ... And this old geezer got a small lesson in car history, thanks to Boyd.  Shelby Mustangs were a lone, lone time ago!

[Boyd]

K. P. Harrier

Ron,

The expressions 'Los Angeles-Ogden' [Union Pacific], 'Santa Fe,' and 1967 confuses me.

You are not thinking about the horrific smashup in Cajon Pass around 1978, are you?  If you are, there is a big picture of it in, I believe, a 1978 TRAINS Magazine issue.

In that wreck just east of the top of Cajon Pass, by Martinez Spur, an eastbound Santa Fe autos carrying train had the ground totally collapse underneath it because of poor drainage.  At the news, Los Angeles TV stations rushed to and broadcast live reports from the wreck site.  Three- or four-month old lead Santa Fe SD40-2 5037 had its frame very, very severely bent, and the locomotive had to be cut in two on site.  A bunch of Ford-related autos that were being transport were destroyed as well.  I remember being at the scene the next day and seeing T-Birds all smashed up half-buried in mud.  It was an unbelievable sight!

Outside of that incident, no other incident halfway fits your description in my mind.

Best,

K.P.

1970 was the last year of Shelby Mustang production by Carrol Shelby so 1978 is way off.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Probably originated at the Ford plant in MiIpitas just north of San Jose, if I'm recalling correctly ? 

Since there don't seem to be any reports in the ICC or NTSB publication archives, I'd suggest checking any local newspaper's archives ('morgue') that still exist in or for the cities and towns along the way, as well as railroad union newsletter publications for the SP, etc.  While normally burdensome, the narrow date range that you have would make that effort far less extensive than usual.     

- Paul North. 

[jeffhergert]

On another forum there was a posting a while back asing the same question, with a bit different info.  I'm not sure it's the same person asking here because of the differences.  Here's some info from the other place.

The dates are the same, however the shipment is said to have originated on the SP at San Jose, CA and was destined for the midwest, Nebraska was mentioned.  13 of the 14 autos involved were recovered and ended up being sold to Santa Fe Salvage Depot in Los Angeles, CA.  Santa Fe in this case may not be related to the AT&SF and might be throwing people off. 

It seems no one is sure of where the derailment took place.  I would think routing would be via Donner Pass to Ogden, then most likely a UP routing, but a DRGW-CBQ or DRGW-RI routing would also be possible.  Since the cars ended up in LA, I'ld think the derailment happened in or closer to California then Nebraska.      

Jeff

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

See also the posts at this link: http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,193958 

If you're perhaps thinking of salvaging that lone Shelby - presuming that tale is true, I nevertheless highly doubt that salvage and restoration is possible, for the following reasons (among others):

• The wreck crews shoved it into a hole - instead of salvaging it like the other 13 - for a reason: it was hopelessly bent-up and/ or smashed down, most likely;
• It's likely under a fill that supported the main track then and now, and possibly subsequent widening of the fill to add more tracks.  No way will the railroad let anyone excavate there;
• Seems like a permit would have to be obtained from the U.S. Forest Service to dig for and retrieve it - good luck with that ! 
• It's probably behind the security fence there now anyway;
• As wet as the site was then and since - it's at the bottom of a drainage course - after over 30 years it's probabaly all rusted away except for the frame, engine block, transmission, and similar big parts or assemblies. 

- Paul North. 

P.S. - See also this link for a brief account of the wreck and its cause, from the engineer of that train:

http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/CAJON/message/9527

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

With the considerable benefit of K.P.'s recollection above, here's the link to the ICC Accident Report for that one, and some excerpts from it:

http://ntl1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?browse&rn=4005"

ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND SANTA FE RAILWAY COMPANY
SUMMIT, CALIFORNIA
MARCH 6, 1978

RAILROAD ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

REPORT NO. 79-3 

Synopsis

At 4:07 p.m., March 6, 1978, an Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe freight train derailed at Summit, California, while moving at a speed of 50 m.p.h. The accident occurred under clear weather conditions.

Casualties

The engineer sustained extensive injuries to the chest and jaw. The front brakeman was slightly injured.

Two deadhead brakemen riding in the control compartment of the second locomotive unit were fatally injured. Both men were crushed and their remains were cremated in the ensuing fire.

Cause

The accident was caused by previous rainfall in the area which allowed the landfill to become saturated and not support the track structure.

Damages

The four locomotive units and the first 16 cars derailed. According to the carrier's estimate, the cost of damages to the rolling equipment and track structure was $2,115,984.

Circumstances Prior to Accident

Extra 5037 East, an eastbound freight train consisting of four road-switcher type diesel-electric units 5037 (EMD SD-40-2), 5610 (EMD SD-45), 5011 (EMD SD-40), 8763 (GE U-36C), 47 cars and a caboose (2,022 tons), departed San Bernardino, California at 2:57 p.m. on the day of the accident. 

http://ntl1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?file&fn=0&name=S%3A%5CDOT_56GB%5CRailroad%5CWEBSEARCH%5Cimages%5CRAR-79-3_3.jpg 

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Nothing about that derailment appears to be in the DOT "Special Collection" of ICC Accident Reports, at:

  http://ntl1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?websearch&site=dot_railroads 

Nor for ATSF, SP, or UP in 1967, at: http://ntl1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?toc&ds=57 

Did the Santa Fe even get to Ogden back then ?  I thought only SP, UP, and WP went there ?   

- Paul North.

[K. P. Harrier]

Ron,

The expressions 'Los Angeles-Ogden' [Union Pacific], 'Santa Fe,' and 1967 confuses me.

You are not thinking about the horrific smashup in Cajon Pass around 1978, are you?  If you are, there is a big picture of it in, I believe, a 1978 TRAINS Magazine issue.

In that wreck just east of the top of Cajon Pass, by Martinez Spur, an eastbound Santa Fe autos carrying train had the ground totally collapse underneath it because of poor drainage.  At the news, Los Angeles TV stations rushed to and broadcast live reports from the wreck site.  Three- or four-month old lead Santa Fe SD40-2 5037 had its frame very, very severely bent, and the locomotive had to be cut in two on site.  A bunch of Ford-related autos that were being transport were destroyed as well.  I remember being at the scene the next day and seeing T-Birds all smashed up half-buried in mud.  It was an unbelievable sight!

Outside of that incident, no other incident halfway fits your description in my mind.

Best,

K.P.

[Paintertwice]

Anyone with info on a derailment involving a stack car around 6/28/67 to 7/5/67 between L.A. and Ogdon with 14 new SHELBY GT 350 & GT500's on board. 13 cars salvaged and the insurance payed off by Santa Fe through their L.A. office,  "One car was shoved in a hole and covered up". word's of an equipment  operator on site at the time. Any info please post, Thank You Ron Hile.....