Mauch Chunk, PA Train Wreck, Oct 1890

THREE TRAINMEN KILLED

A Frightful Collision on the Jersey Central Railroad

A frightful accident occurred on the Jersey Central Railroad between Lehighton and Packerton, near Mauch Chunk, Penn. The day operator at Lehighton, whose name is HEFELFINGER, had orders to hold a coal train at that place, so that passenger train No. 9 could pass it. The message was received just a few minutes before he gave place to the night operator, and he forgot to tell the latter of the order. The result was that the coal train was not held, but kept on its course on the main track until it was met by a passenger train going at a high rate of speed.

A terrible collision followed. Both engines came together with such force that they were thrown over the embankment on the Lehigh Valley tracks below. The passengers were panic stricken, but none of them was injured beyond a few bruises.

The killed are: Engineer BIGELOW, of the coal train; Fireman DUNLAP, of the coal train, who lives in Mauch Chunk, and Fireman MITCHELL, of the passenger train, who lives in New Jersey.

TAYLOR BEDFORD, engineer of the passenger train and two brakemen of the coal train were pinioned in the wreck and were seriously injured.

The Cranbury Press New Jersey 1890-10-03
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!