Seeking information on an accident / derailment at or about Oklahoma City, on or about 2/10/1967. The event resulted in damage to and ultimate retirement of five (5) locomotives. Involved were F3A 5016, FP7A 5046, F3B 5106, F7B 5124 and F7B 5134. It does not appear that the units were returned to service after the incident. All five units were retired on 2/1968 and traded into General Motors (GM) Electro-Motive Division (EMD). They were used as trade-in credit on new SD45 locomotive units (SLSF 914-925). Appreciate your input on this incident. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
As noted, this accident occurred during the afternoon of Friday, February 10, 1967. The Floydada-bound, Frisco 437 struck the rear of a tractor-trailer rig which was traveling northbound on South MacArthur Blvd. The 64-car train was traveling about 35 mph. The Frisco head-end crew received bruises and lacerations for which they were hospitalized. The truck driver was unhurt. The flashers and bell were working at the time of the accident. The lead unit came to rest on its left side with its front pointing eastbound 273 feet west of the point of impact. The remaining 4 units came to rest sideways across the mainline. Nine cars left the rails which included 4 loaded auto racks and two cars of livestock. The two cars of livestock, which were unhurt, are a bit of a surprise on this west bound hotshot.
Karl, Thank you for the information. To add to the above comments, the incident occurred at mile post 546.9 (MP 546.9), South MacArthur Boulevard grade crossing, on the Chickasha Subdivision in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. The city also extends into portions of Canadian, Cleveland and Pottawatomie Counties. The crossing is just northeast of the Oklahoma, Canadian and Cleveland county lines junctions. Just to the southeast of the crossing is the city's main airport, Will Rogers World Airport (OKC). There is a long single track tangent of level track from the grade crossing extending to the northeast 5.3 miles. The tangent begins at the south end of the railroad's second crossing in the city of the North Canadian River on bridge 541.6. In the core of the city the river is now also known as the Oklahoma River. Oklahoma City (Union Station) is MP 540.5. As the train crossed to south bank of the river the headlight would be visible from the grade crossing. Southwestern Division Employee Timetable 46, September 18, 1965 was in effect at the time of the incident. The normal maximum speed limit on this section of track is 45 miles per hour (mph). The train was most likely accelerating after passing 2.7 miles back beyond the 25 mph maximum speed zone at MP 544.2. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
Attached are the track charts for G541.5-G550.0. The rail between G541.5 and G545.38 is a very interesting mix of second hand steel. The grade from OKC Union Station to MacArthur is a gentle climb with two very shallow “hogbacks”.
