George,

It wasn't an accident. The FRA had a maxium speed allowed that went way back, as follows:

Dark Territory with Train Orders 49 mph Frt - 59 mph Pass

ABS with Train Order 79 mph

ABS, TO and Cab Control Signals 90 mph

ABS, TO, Cab Signals and Automatic Train Stop 110 mph.


A lot of the SP was 79 for passenger and the F units were set with 84 mph over speed. Trouble was, with those type brake valves, you could cut the over speed out, right in front of you. And back with steam, the GS engines were balanced for 110 mph. (Or was it 108. ?)

As far as getting a diesel on the point that got the over speed at 67-68 mph was easy. You just opened the relay cabinet behind the fireman, found the OSR relay and pulled off the lower left wire. No Over speed. This was shown to me by an Audit 1 officer when I got an old SP unit on the point of Atk one afternoon.

Then there were the big Barco's on Atk with the G to H wire jump...... the list goes on, at least back then.

You just wanted to get over the road as fast and as safe as possible. You had to cut a few corners.


Nudge