Derailment on Texas State Railroad. 7-6-07

[Anonymous]

I was riding the steam train from rusk to palestine on friday 7-6-07.  When we had a meet with the Palestine train at the half way point, the rusk train was in the siding.  The palestine train was passing on the main when the last car tripped the switch, derailed and hit the front of the rusk train.  The rusk train was being pulled by steam locomotive no 300  a 2-8-0.  It looked as though no 300 received some damage.  Anyone heard anything?

[Anonymous]

Here is a newspaper article:

http://www.jacksonvilleprogress.com/local/local_story_190092528.html

TSRR car collides with steam engine

By Kelly Young

[e-mail]



In the first incident of its kind since it began operation as a state park in 1976, the two trains operating simultaneously on the Texas State Railroad collided Friday.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reports that there were no injuries suffered as a result of the accident, which occurred as the trains were passing each other.

"The incident occurred in the middle of the line, just west of Maydelle, at approximately 11:45 a.m. Our steam locomotive No. 300 was stationary while our diesel engine No. 8 was passing by. We are unsure at this time how it happened, but the final car on No. 8 detached from the train and collided with the engine of No. 300," said Carl Orbison TPWD Region 8 maintenance specialist. "There were passengers on the diesel train, but none were in the last car at the time of the incident."

Only the engine's crew were on-board at the time of the impact.

Orbison said that both cars and the track itself suffered damage during the accident, and that the park will be forced to cancel runs for the next few days until repairs can be made.

"We are investigating the incident to determine what exactly happened. This is the first time something like this has happened in the Texas State Railroad's 30-odd years of operation," Orbison said.

Philster

[videomaker]

Well, Is'nt this something ! That was my birthday and was going to go over there but it was raining here and I figured it was there also, so I didnt go...Son of a gun...Danny

[Anonymous]

There is a video posted on YouTube.  Just type in Texas State Railroad.  It is the 2nd or 3rd video.  It shows the derailment as it happened.  Pretty good video.