After so many stops in and around Allentown, PA, The Traveling Boxcar was involved in a wreck.
Some say that such wrecks are common along the Lehigh Line.
These wreck photos are not for the squeamish. Viewer discretion is advised.
Clicking on each small picture will show you a larger version.
The Traveling Boxcar, with a full load of Just Born Peeps is headed
north
through the Lehigh Gorge. Snowbird 638 and a red C420 are in charge.
Trouble strikes when the combination of the big ALCO, the rough riding
Trimount trucks, and deferred maintenance combine to turn the railhead.
Cars are scattered everywhere.
Fortunately, there are no injuries, and only the crew's pride is hurt.
Some
hikers on the bluffs above have witnessed the wreck.
A call to the Allentown dispatcher sends the wreck train out with the
big
hook. The dispatcher also calls the nearby Reading and asks for assistance.
The wreck train arrives, and the cars still on the rails are carefully
pulled away. Then the 250 ton Bucyrus Erie crane is soon hard
at work
cleaning up the mess.
Each car is checked, carefully up righted, and removed.
Due to the position in which the Traveling Boxcar settled, the C420
needed to be
moved before our Boxcar can be recovered.
Finally, it is the Traveling Boxcar's turn. The Reading Crane has arrived
by this time and lends a helping hand (hook?) as the Traveling
Boxcar is
gingerly removed from its' predicament.
The running gear is thoroughly checked as the Traveling Boxcar is returned
to the rails.
It will be several days until the track crews completely clear the
area and
repair the damage. To expedite delivery of the Traveling Boxcar to
Rochester, the dispatcher reroutes it over the Erie Lackawanna. The
EL will
take it to Buffalo, where the Valley can take final possession and
make delivery to Rochester.
The EL has spared no expense and has tucked the Traveling Boxcar right
behind the power for the Twin Cities Limited.
(Thanks to Lehighline, RDG&E and Johnshorse for a fun stop and great
pictures from Allentown PA)