This pile up occured less than 100 yards from the train
station in Charleston, WV in the summer of 1994, knocking
both mains out for 4 days on the old C&O.
Shut Down!
One morning, as I passed the former C&O train
station like I did every day, instead of a passing
train I found a pile up.
Dump!
I was one of the first on the scene. Cars were twisted
around each other like soda cans and coal was dumped out
into the street.
Down!
Both main lines were torn out, cars were every where,
and signal poles were knocked over.
Packed!
A failed bearing caused a wheel to overheat and
melt the truck. The wheel fell off and slid along
until the track came to a crossover where it caught
and lifted the car off the track. Fourteen loaded cars
quickly packed into each other.
Move Out!
CSX crews were quickly called out to remove the
wrecked cars. The rest of the train was undamaged and
pulled away.
Pick up!
Special cranes were brought in to pick up cars
and carry them off to the side.
Carry Off!
After the cars were carried off, torches were
brought in to cut them up.
