Railroad
Source: Indianapolis Star 16 Aug 1948 p 1
Crawfordsville Aug 15 – Three Terre Haute crewmen of an explosive carrying Pennsylvania freight train were injured, one seriously in a freak railroad accident near here today. Injured were Thomas Harris, a fireman who suffered a broken arm, possible skull and hip fractures and severe cuts; EJ Giffel, broken ribs and LaVern Stepp, cuts and bruises. All three were taken to Culver Union Hospital at Crawfordsville. Approximately 20 cars of the twin-engine train were derailed in the accident a quarter of a mile east of Ind. 47 midway between here and Garfield in Montgomery County. Sheriff Roy Hardacre said the second engine of the train running between Terre Haute and Logansport snapped a knuckle pin a mile outside Crawfordsville, rendering it powerless. Crewmen uncoupled the first engine, sending it to Garfield to bring back repairs. Engine No 1 had started back from Garfield, but meanwhile emergency repairs were completed on the faulty engine and it had started up pulling the train to meet Engine No. 1. Neither crew apparently was aware of the imminent crash and the two engines rammed together, causing the tender of Engine No 2 to topple on its side. Wreckers and repair crews spent several hours clearing the entanglement. No immediate estimate of damage was available. State police said neither PD Wolfe, Terre Haute engineer on the No 2 locomotive nor the engineer on the No. locomotive, EF Lucas, Terre Haute were hurt. Crewmen on Engine No. 1 also escaped injury. The train was carrying a small cargo of explosives, state police said, but none was set off.