ARRT'S    ARRCHIVES







HERETOFORE   UNKNOWN   1897   TRAIN   WRECK


IN LATE 1897 THE TRADE PUBLICATION "ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW RAILWAY TIMES" HAD A PHOTOGRAPHER RECORDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MANHASSET VIADUCT.   A TEMPORARY WOOD STRUCTURE HAD BEEN BUILT TO FACILITATE BUILDING THE STONE WEST ABUTMENT.

MANHASSET     VALLEY




THE CONTRACTOR USED THE NEW BUT NOT YET OPENED TRACK FROM GREAT NECK TO THE SITE FOR BRINGING IN SUPPLIES AND TRANSPORTING HIS WORK CREWS, USING AN OLD L.I.R.R. CAMELBACK AND TWO ANCIENT COACHES.   ON THE AFTERNOON OF NOVEMBER 16, WHILE TRAVELING EAST WITH ONLY THE TWO EMPTY CARS, A BRAKE FAILURE PREVENTED THE ENGINEER FROM STOPPING AND THE TRAIN ENTERED THE FLIMSY WOOD STRUCTURE, COLLAPSING IT AND PLUMMETING DOWN TO ITS DEMISE.   THE ENGINE CREW JUMPED JUST IN TIME.   THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE INCIDENT WAS NEVER REPORTED.   THE PHOTOGRAPER THOUGH RECORDED THIS IMAGE.



WORK RESUMED.     BY JANUARY 14, 1898 THE WEST ABUTMENT HAD BEEN BUILT.




MAY 10, 1898


MAY 13, 1898


CIRCA 1900











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