Request for info.

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I am trying to find information on the Pennsylvamia railroad’s major trainwreck at Frankford Junction in Philadelphia on 9/6/43. Can anyone out there assist me ? Thanks

2

well i would check with libraires and local papers in that area since you have the date of the wreck.good luck in your search.
stay safe
joe

3

You can access the old ICC reports,via the Library of Congress or the National Archives in addition to the other’s suggestions of looking into newspaper files. Since this happened in Pennsylvania, check the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s resources, as well.[;)] Or, go high tech with a lexus/nexus search.(not recommended, unless you have time on your hands!)

4

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been able to find very little on the internet in any form. I suspect that as this accident happened in the middle of World War II and on the most important rail line in America, today’s NEC, that much of the information may have been censored for security purposes. I did find on a micro film collection of Life Magazine dated 9/20/43 that had a one paragraph article and a few pictures of the rescue operation, but not very much which is odd as this was the worst train accident in the US for some 25 years. I am going to try the micro film collection of the Phila. Inquirer which has been digitalized by Temple University in Philly but which cannot be accessed from the internet. The Phila Evening Bulletin, which folded some 20 years ago must also have covered it but I do not know if there is any archive of that paper in existence. I will try your other recommendations. In case you are wondering why I am doing this, my father worked in a factory along that rail route, saw the flamming journal box and as the factory was the old SKF BALL BEARING factory knew exaxtly what this would mean.
He and some workers tried frantically to alert Shore Tower both by phone and physically by hopping into a car and racing the train. Of course none of this was successful but he and the other workers volunteered to use their metal cutting tools to try to free trapped passengers. My hope is to find enough to write an article about this from my father’s memory and extant sources from the media of 1943. Thanks again

5

The report is on the Federal DOT’s collection of historic rail accident inquiries. If I remember and have time I’ll post the link tomorrow – that particular favourite is on my work computer…

6

Thanks; I tried to find this site on my own but have not had any luck thus far finding it.

7

http://dotlibrary1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?websearch&site=dot_railroads

Click on ICC historical investigation reports

and then search 1943. It’s in there… broken journal

8

Thank you so very much. The information was just what I was looking for. You are very considerate for replying to my request so very proptly. Kevin