| By: | Hank Stephens |
| Dates: | 10/18/2009 - 11/1/2009 |
| Album Info: | Nowadays you just call Hulcher or R J Corman. Back in my college days, the railroad still had to call out the big hook to change out a siezed traction motor. A southbound CSX manifest R615 had a worn old ex-L&N U30C #7211 that caused its share of grief for the A&WP/WofA on a weekday in 1987. It left out of Hamlet third out and a traction motor siezed,eventually wearing flat spots in the wheel connected to it. It got by inspectors in Atlanta, and by the time it reached Opelika, the motor has started turning again and the flat spot literally shook the traction motor off its hangers in the truck. The unit then drug the traction motor for some twenty miles through several switches and the NS diamond crosssing at Opelika. The NS switcher could not get the interlocking to free up after 615 passed, and after inspection realized the dragging motor was destroying everything inside the rails. This added up to every switch and the diamond from Cusseta to just north of Auburn on CSX. NS got the CSX dispatcher, who stopped the train, just before the motor detached completely, likely causing a serious derailment in downtown Auburn. An inspection revealed the motor had wiped out every switch behind the train and broke the electrical contacts at the NS-CSX diamond in Opelika. 615 then uncoupled from its train, now sprawled out from Auburn to Opelika and set the unit out at McGehee Spur near College Street and Auburn-Opelika Road. Two days later CSX called out the Montgomery wrecker to rescue the unit. These pictures are from an old point and shoot camera, taken by a now deceased friend and college roomate. This one is for you Wes, you are still sorely missed! |
