Not Really:

In 69 the Zipper (#373) went into the ditch at Capitan because the fill just east of the siding had lost all of its support. Oh, the rails were intact so Frank Jackson got a green signal.

Well, Chuck Chambers, the hogger on the east train in the siding at Capitan, called Frank and asked what was wrong, his red light just came on. Frank told him to wait a sec and he would see what happened. Well, Frank had a slug of covered wagons. He had gone in the ditch east of Capitan and everything was in the ditch , except 2 units. When they got everything together, they could not reach anyone on the radio and the line side farmers line and dispatchers line were dead, so they went back, as rails are known to do, and took matters in their own hands.

Frank left everything there and took his first 2 lead units, any crews that wanted to go west. He took his power down to the west end of Capitan, and picked up the east mans hack.

The crew left there on No. 373s head rights and went to SLO. They were finally able to get the dispatcher at Sudden and tell him what happened as they motored along towards SLO.

Now, the derailment.

A few units made it over and a lot of auto racks and pigs went into the ditch. Two of the pigs were way-billed Mty but the trailers were full of Budwiser Beer. There was a caboose in the middle of the mess and it was supposed to be used out of San Jose for the end of the train for the City.

Well, cut to the chase, there was a railfan riding the hack and he was found a few days later in the burned mess.

Ah! The autos. Well, you don't mess with GM. With in 4 hours, they had guards posted around the whole mess. NOBODY was allowed in or out. Then when daylight came into the picture, you could not much of the wreck because of the smoke.

Then, here comes the "GM Army". (still had their long guns and side arms.) They torched every block, transmission, drive line and rear end.

Only after, were the scrappers allowed to go into the mess.

I would guess that is what will happen here.



Nudge