The Sedalia Turn Part 2 in Tales of the Jointed Track

I was called on another Sedalia turn. It's another great morning, and I'll be home in maybe 8 hours, a "date" maybe. Same old stuff, Western Aspen, the plastic people ( they made trash bags ) at the Windemere Street spur, poles for Public Service of Colorado ( a utility ), and two box cars for the House track at Englewood. All our work is at Santa Fe Park, so we'll go to Sedalia, run around the Hack, we'll be up there in 40 minutes, not a big deal. and make the pick up. Looks like maybe, depending on traffic, an easy day.

The crew: Conductor............Jerry Bethurum

Head Brakeman...D "Van" Hargrove

Rear Brakeman...Bill Maulin

Fireman...............Tom Jenkins ( promoted engineer)

Engineer..............Robert M "Brakeshoe" Terry

The engine crew reported to the 7th Street Roundhouse, and our assigned charge was a Santa Fe GP-20, 2000 hp, 4 axles, turbocharged, equipped with dynamic braking, if it worked.. The West end yardmaster was contacted, and we were told, grab the caboose off of the lead, and leave town. An engine and a caboose, a BN caboose nonetheless. We have our marching orders, and we'll double check with the Englewood station agent.

Evans Avenue MP 6.2 Southbound mainline 11:15 am:

We are running long hood forward out of town, not a big deal either. The cab position, when we do our work, will be in the line of sight to do our work. We take the Red over Green signal at South Denver, and we're outta Dodge. Speed is 40 mph, and were doing it. Active Crossings, Mississippi Ave, Evans Ave, Dartmouth Ave, Oxford, Quincy, Yale, Littleton Blvd, Prince and Ridge road..we'll be out of town.

I can see the lights activating, for Evans Avenue. They made an overpass, BUT!!!, there is still a grade crossing coming east and west off of the Highway 85- South Santa Fe Drive access.

There is a Cab Over Semi Tractor and flatbed rig, waiting to turn left onto Evans, and he sees his chance, to get through traffic. He is oblivious to us. Since I am on the other side, due to running backwards, I don't see what is unfolding. It is clear on my side, and were on the second sounding of the crossing whistle sequence. Tom yells, "God Damn plug it we're hitting this guy". I wipe the brake valve, feel the thud, and see a blur or the truck as we pass. We stopped a quarter mile, past the point of impact.

I call the Rice Yard operator, and they have the Denver PD and medical en route. The train crew has gone back to render aid. I go back later to be interviewed by the Denver PD. The rig is destroyed, but good news, the driver walked away. He lept backwards, and peeled a little of his scalp on the air conditioner, when we hit him. The ambulance crew patched him up, and he refused further medical treatment. The Denver PD ticketed him for running the red signal and turning left, failure to yield to the railroad crossing, warning signals.

Well the GP-20, had rear step and handrail damage. We are able to clear the mainline at Littleton, but that's as far as we can go due to a safety hazard. We are picked up and taken back to Rice yard. We are informed on arrival to grab a C&S SD-9 off the lead, and go back out and finish up out work. We got new orders, and did our local work. We brought the GP-20 in, and took the SD-9 and the GP-20 to the house. The Santa Fe, paid the BN, to straighten out the handrails, and repair the steps, so it went to 23rd Street for a couple of days. We died on our 12 hours, on arrival at the house at 7th Street.

Conclusion:

I had the pow wow with the claims agent for the Santa Fe. I was told you may get a call from the Trucking Company, refer them to this number. Okay, I'll do that and sure enough a week later, the phone rings. I was waiting call, and it looked like about 200 to 300 pm that afternoon. It was around 1030, or so, and I had just come in from doing errands.

Sure enough, it was the trucking Company representative asking if I was Mr. Terry, who works for the Santa Fe. I said I was, and the question I was asked, almost floored me. "We need the name, agent and phone number of your insurance company". "You mean the Santa Fe's or my insurance personally?" "Yours".. I laughed, I said, "You have to be kidding". "No you caused a total of our Rig due to the collision". I told the individual, "Sorry, it's not a motor vehicle, it's a locomotive. Plus, your driver was cited on various violations. Plus I work for the railroad company, so you need to contact the Santa Fe Claims agent at this number and deal with them. This is not a issue for my insurance company. Grab a pen here is the contact number". "I have that, but I need your insurance as well". "Well your not getting it, contact the Santa Fe". "So you are not giving it to me". "Yes to make it more simple I am not". "I can get a court order through our attorney". "Do what you think you can do, but it will all go through the Santa Fe". The call ended. I called the Claims agent, shortly afterward. He was informed, and said, "We will put a stop to that, and will keep you informed if you are needed in a law suit. Don't give out any information". I assured him that I had not. Well it did go to a claims trail. The Trucking Company lost, and had to pay all costs, plus the money spent to repair the locomotive. That probably was more than they bargained for. I never heard from them again. Plus I wasn't looking to have a crossing accident that day, either.