Coin From The Great Dismal Swamp Train Crash In A Presentation Box, & Signed
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:53346600 | Type: COIN |
| Options: Main Line Train | Theme: Railwayana |
| Company/ Era/ Region: North America | Modified Item: No |
The auction is for an original Coin From the Great Dismal Swamp Train Crash 19th Many 1986, in a presentation box with a signed COA on quality paperCarson a train powered by a vintage steam engine suddenly rolled over after it derailed in the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife refuge, injuring181 of the 1, 000 people aboard, passengers said. A Boy Scout leader who was on the 24-car Norfolk & Western train said it seemed as if ″everything was coming at us″ after it derailed Sunday afte...rnoon. Five people were critically injured and two others were in serious but stable condition. Most of the others hurt were released after treatment.The train was travelling at about 60 mph when it derailed, said Norfolk Southern Chairman Robert B. Claytor, who was at the throttle of engine No. 611. The train was on a 150-mile, day-long trip from Norfolk to Petersburg and back. It was carrying employees of Norfolk Southern Corp., parent company of the Norfolk & Western, and their family and friends on an annual outing.″All of a sudden she just started rolling, ″ said passenger H.L. Lowe, who was not injured.″The whole car started turning over, ″ said Dr. Robert F. Brewer, aplastic surgeon at Portsmouth Naval Hospital who was in the dining car.″I was just coming to the counter and all of a sudden we felt the car turning, ″ he said. ″The whole food counter started coming over toward us. We realized we were going to the woods. Everything was coming at us. The whole car started turning over.″Brewer had accompanied 16 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts on the trip. ″Troop212 got to go as a special treat, ″ he said. ″It wasn’t exactly what I had planned for my Sunday.″The cause of the accident has not been determined, but ″it wasn’t anything in the operation of the engine, ″ said Claytor. ″The steam engine is in perfect shape.″ ″What makes it hard for me is that we hurt some of our employees, ″ he said.Two cars flipped on their sides, trapping some passengers for up to 90minutes. It was in those cars - a coach and a dining car - where the most serious injuries occurred.Within minutes of the derailment, more than 100 rescue workers converged on the scene, about seven miles from the nearest road. Coast Guard, Navy and civilian medical evacuation helicopters flew in and out. Seven people were taken to Norfolk General Hospital for treatment of chest and head injuries, said Debbie Myers, a hospital spokeswoman. Five of them, ranging from age 10 to 60, were in critical condition and the other two were in serious but stable condition, she said.Six other people were treated there for minor injuries and released, Ms.Myers said.Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth received 58 passengers, and seven were admitted in fair to good condition, said John Stone, associated ministrator. Three other hospitals - in Suffolk, Chesapeake and Norfolk - reported treating 110 other people, mostly for minor injuries.The train was part of an excursion program operated by the railroad, said Robert C. Fort, a spokesman for Norfolk Southern. The train’s engine was built in 1950 and was taken out of service in 1959. It was refurbished in 1982 and put into service for the excursion program.The cause of the derailment might not be known for several days, said Fort. The rail was ″continuous welded steel in excellent condition, ″ he said. ″It was the best railroad track in the United States, pure and simple.″ The excursion trains often are used by railroad historical associations and other groups, Fort said.The tracks are the railroad’s main line for coal shipments from the western part of the state to eastern Virginia ports. It was uncertain how long the lines, both damaged, would be closed.
