researching a train accident

Hello from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

I am researching an accident that took place around noon on Feb. 8, 1950 involving a Frisco combination train just south of Poplar Bluffs, Missouri.

I hoped your organization and it's members might have some more information about it. I have the Missouri Highway Patrol Report and the newspaper story from the day after. Two of the people mentioned in the story are distant relatives of mine.

The train was the Frisco combination train 876, and it appears that the car my relatives were in hit the second car of the train.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Debbie Long

 

Debbie,

I guess it depends upon what you mean by additional information, and I don’t know if I can add anything to the MHP’s report and newspaper report. Since you have asked this question on a web site dedicated to the Frisco Railroad, my response will be to add information about the Frisco.

The Frisco was the nickname for the St Louis - San Francisco RR, which was a regional, Midwest carrier. The map shows the Frisco as it existed during 1950. Train 876 operated between Hoxie, AR and Chaffee, MO via Pocahontas, Poplar Bluff, Advance, and Nash. The track between Hoxie and Nash was known as the Hoxie Subdivision of the Frisco’s River Division. The branch line generated enough freight and passenger traffic to be handled in a single train, each way, every day except for Sunday. The trains were short, and the trains stopped at the larger towns to drop-off or pick-up freight cars as needed.


The trains which operated over the Hoxie Subdivision were 3rd class, mixed trains, which required 7-1/2 hours to make the 121 mile trip. A mixed train is a train that carries both freight and passengers. Even though the maximum speed on the line was 40 mph, local nature of the train required much of the day to get its destination. I have attached the page from 1949 Employee Time Table that shows the Hoxie Sub. The fatal collision occurred about 1 mile north of the hamlet, Taft, MO. Train 876 was scheduled to pass through Taft at 10:30AM.



This is the the Hoxie Subdivision schedule as taken from a 1950 public timetable; it is unchanged from the 1949 Employee Time Table. The Frisco abandoned the Hoxie Sub during 1965.


As I read through the various newspaper articles, I noticed a discrepancy with your story and the news paper articles. The newspapers said the the automobile struct the locomotive; your narrative states that the automobile struck the second car. I think that I can rationalize the discrepancy. Since the train was powered by a steam locomotive which had a tender behind it for fuel and water, it’s likely that the automobile hit the locomotive tender. One of the articles said the the crossing was “unprotected”, which would be false. All railroad crossings are required to have “warning devices”. In this case, it’s likely the the crossing had only cross bucks, but no lights or gate.

I also saw that Mrs. Toby Block became the third fatality, when she succumbed to her injuries on Feb 13, 1950.

This 15 minute USGS topo map shows the location of the collision. The wooded area to the west of Hwy 67 may have obscured the approach of train 876. Trains are required to blow the whistle and ring the bell until the crossing is occupied.


Here is a modern view from Google Earth. the location is 36 degrees 38 minutes 35.21 seconds north and 90 degrees 31 minutes 12.71 seconds west. Frisco alignment by Roger Taylor





https://digital.denverlibrary.org/digital/collection/p15330coll22/id/65565/rec/1 This link will take you to an Otto Perry photo of train 876 at Walnut Ridge, AR. One of the 1400-class, steam locomotives was probably pulling the train on Feb 8, 1950.

The Hoxie Sub trains used one of these distinctive coach-cabooses, where both passengers and crew rode.
https://digital.denverlibrary.org/digital/collection/p15330coll22/id/67530

I am not certain if this is what you were after...

 

Karl did an excellent job researching and replying.
FYI,
Missouri State Archives has created the Missouri Digital Heritage Website providing access to death certificates from 1910-1960. The deaths of these people are available and sheds some more information.

 

Thanks for that Joe. Interesting searching for relatives with that.

 

Wow! I am so impressed with everyone's enthusiastic and comprehensive responses. It appears that you folks are as obsessive as genealogists! I cannot thank you enough.