Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
36041.001.0094 |
Accession number |
36041.001 |
Object Name |
Image, Digital |
Description |
This is a front 3/4 engineer's side view of Eastern Railroad's #72, a 4-4-0 on May 23, 1873. This locomotive was built by the Hinkley Locomotive Works in 1872 with a construction number (c/n) of 1105. The cylinders measured 17x24 with 69" drivers. This locomotive was rebuilt in 1878 and the cylinders were changed to 16x24. The #72 was renumbered to 172 and given the name "George Hood" when the Boston & Maine Railroad leased the Eastern in 1883. Number #72 was later sold to Poulterer & Co., a used locomotive dealer, on January 13, 1897. This photograph shows the #72 in a rather precarious position and is explained in an article by the Salisbury Point Railroad Historical Sociey of Amesbury, Massachusetts. Newburyport Wreck May 23, 1873 At a quarter past four o'clock on Firday afternoon, the frieght train to Portland, on the Eastern Railroad, passed through the station in this city without stopping. Directly after leaving the station, the engineer saw that they were on the wrong track. A switch had been misplaced and they were running upon th side track which ends near the bridge across Merrimac Street. The engineer reversed his engine and whistled "down brakes," and he and the fireman jumped from the engine and escaped injury. The train was not running very fast or there would have been a serious disaster. As it was the engine broke the heavy posts and braces, knocked down a quantity of the stone work of the bridge and ran down the bank almost to the street. The engine is #72, and weighs thirty-four tons. It was replaced on the track by Sunday night. The spur track which ran down to the overhead bridge, and was used for extra passenger cars. One the day of the accident, the train for Boston was being made up. The switchman, Dennis Hayes, turned the switch from the main line to the spur track, to allow two or three empty cars to be connected with the afternoon train. Hayes was doing double duty as switch-tender and baggage master, the baggage master, Bill Jackson, being off duty for the day. The swithcman forgot to turn back the switch to the main line. The passenger train passed out through the tunnel, and the Amesbury freight from Boston came along, gathering speed. The engine went through the open switch and the engineer and fireman jumped for safety. The locomotive which, the picture shows to have been a type with old-fashioned funnel, crashed through the bumper and hung, suspended over the embankment, halfway down. The wrecker was sent to Newburyport to raise the derailed engine, and during the operations the derrick broke and part of it fell through the roof of a building at the corner of Summer Street. This photo came from the Boston & Maine Railroad's Marketing Department and was complied by Benjamin Thomas. One image is in sepia tone, the second and third photo is grayscale, though the third image is of the highest quality. This photograph is an Essex Institue image. The Walker Transportation Collection has the same photograph, but the quailty is sharper and the view much more extensive. It is located in filing cabinet A-21-9. |
Date |
May 23, 1983 |
Collection |
Boston & Maine RR: Locomotives of the Eastern RR |
Title |
Eastern Railroad 4-4-0 #72, Newburyport, Mass. wreck. |
Search Terms |
Eastern Railroad steam locomotive locomotive engine transportation railroad Boston and Maine Railroad Boston & Maine Railroad B&M #72 #172 "George Hood" Hinkley Hinkley Locomotive Works c/n 1105 Newburyport Massachusetts May 1873 1872 1896 Poulterer & Co. 1897 wreck Merrimac St. Essex Institute |
Print size |
2100x1494 |
Photographer |
Unknown |
Place |
Newburyport, Massachusetts |
People |
MacMillan, Alan Sr. MacMillan, Alan Jr. Hutchinson, David Thomas, Benjamin |
Medium |
Digital Image |