Lesser known wrecks during WW2

[Eric Reinert]

Here are newspaper accounts and photos of 3 freight train wrecks on the Monon from 1942-43 that don't seem to be recorded on the website.  One of them from January 1942 shows Northbound freight that telescoped a caboose and two "coal gondolas" that were left on the main at Dyer by "Extra 550" while interchanging with the J. I've attached a the initial written article from the day it happened. The article's headline says the "Hammond Terminal" was tied up. I imagine the inability to dispatch or receive trains into South Hammond would have tied it up tight for a while anyway. I'm attaching another news photo at Ellettsville and one near Harrodsburg. It's amazing how common wrecks like this were back in this era.

[George Lortz]

Great finds.  Thanks for sharing, Eric.

Many years ago, I met a former-Monon employee who had the Monon Company records of the accounts of all wrecks that happened in Monon history.  It was several thick volumes of hand-written information.  At the time he was willing to sell them, but the cost was too high for me.  I've kicked myself many times since then!  He has since passed away, but I was never able to track the location of the records.

George L.