–19 Adams and Seibold. Great Train Wrecks of Eastern Pennsylvania. 1992, p. 194.

–19 AP. “19 Persons Killed on Baseball Train.” The Derrick, Oil City, PA. 7-30-1962, p. 1.

–19 AP. “Track Alignment Cause of ‘Special’s’ Wreck.” Somerset Daily American, 7-31-1962.

–19 Haine. Railroad Wrecks. 1993, p. 32.

–19 Kiner. “‘People flew like matchsticks’…baseball special train wreck, July 28, 1962.”

Narrative Information

July 28: “Steelton, Pa. (AP)–A Pennsylvania Railroad special loaded with baseball fans jumped the track alongside the Susquehanna River Saturday night [July 28]. The last three cars rolled down a 40-foot embankment into the water.[1]

“There were 25 known deaths,[2] and another 120 injured reported by area hospitals.[3] Many were children. State police said it was possible there might be other bodies in the river.

“The three cars which rolled into the river were the only ones in the nine-unit train which carried passengers. Because of the extended drought the Susquehanna, one of the East’s major streams, was only about three feet deep as it ran through this hamlet about seven miles from Harrisburg. In all five cars derailed, but two of them remained upright.

“Ira Markley, 64, of Lancaster, Pa., conductor of the train, said he was in an empty car when he felt it wobble. He looked out of the window and saw the last three cars whip off the rails and tumble down the bank. ‘It happened so fast there was no way to tell what possibly could have happened.’ Markley said. He, like the other railroad crewmen, was not hurt.

“A railroad spokesman said many passengers were trapped in the cars standing in the water. Divers equipped for underwater work and carrying acetylene torches worked to free them….

“Smoke and fire could be seen for miles.[4]

“The baseball special left Harrisburg at 5 p.m. en route for the Philadelphia Phillies – Pittsburgh Pirates game in Philadelphia on Saturday night….

“The first four cars of the special stayed on the track and, from all accounts, no one in these cars was hurt….

“Both Harrisburg Polyclinic Hospital and the Harrisburg Hospital reported their facilities were taxed with injured. Polyclinic said there were 16 bodies there and Harrisburg Hospital said there was one body there.

“A railroad spokesman said the train carried a crew of five, but an exact count of the passengers aboard was not available….” (AP. “25 Known Dead, 120 Injured as Train Carrying Baseball Fans is Wrecked,” Progress-Index, Petersburg-Colonial Heights, VA, 7-29-1962, p. 1.)

July 30: “Steelton, Pa. (AP) — A track out of alignment[5] may have caused part of a Pennsylvania Railroad baseball special, traveling at nearly 70 miles an hour,[6] to derail and plunge into the shallow Susquehanna River, the railroad said Sunday [July 29].

“Nineteen persons died when five cars of the nine-car train to Philadelphia left the tracks. Authorities at first had difficulty counting the bodies because some were mangled. About 100 persons were injured. Thirty four were hospitalized.

“The crash was the nation’s worst rail disaster since Sept. 15, 1958, when 48 died as a train plunged through an open drawbridge at Bayonne, N.J., into Newark Bay….

“The derailment occurred next to the Bethlehem Steel Co. plant. The train had left a few minutes earlier from the state capital at Harrisburg where all the passengers boarded. Many of them were fathers and sons, mothers and daughters.

“After tumbling down the angled 40-foot embankment, two of the shattered cars came to rest on their sides. The third, its roof shredded, remained upright in about three feet of water. Several bodies were strewn along the slope. Most were trapped in the wreckage….” (Associated Press. “19 Persons Killed on Baseball Train.” The Derrick, Oil City, PA. 7-30-1962, p. 1.)

July 31: “Harrisburg (AP) — A Train crew reported that track repaired a day earlier appeared to weave out of alignment before the last three cars of a baseball special derailed and plunged into the Susquehanna River, a Pennsylvania Railroad official said Monday [July 30]. ‘The (train) crew said they observed a misalignment of the track and attempted to stop,’ Howard C. Kohout, manager of PRR’s Philadelphia Region told a news conference. He added: ‘Now, what caused this misalignment we don’t know.’….He estimated that perhaps a dozen trains had passed over that particular section of track between the time repairs were completed and the ill-fated baseball special came along. A mail train had passed two hours earlier and reported nothing unusual….He said a number of factors could have caused a misalignment, including damage by faulty trains, temperature changes and a shift in the roadbed….

“Nineteen persons were killed….” (Associated Press. “Track Alignment Cause of ‘Special’s’ Wreck.” Somerset Daily American, PA, 7-31-1962, p. 1.)

Aug 6: “Scranton, Pa. (AP)–A Pennsylvania Railroad foreman has told the Public Utility Commission [State of PA] that track blamed for the July 28 railroad wreck at Steelton was sufficiently anchored, even though the usual number of anchors was not installed. The track was anchored the day before a Saturday baseball special derailed, sending three passenger cars into the Schuylkill River, killing 19 persons and injuring more than 100. PUC Commissioner William F. O’Hara said the foreman reported the normal number of anchors was not installed Friday because it was quitting time and the crew intended to complete the job Monday….

“The railroad has blamed the crash on track being out of alignment, caused by the maintenance gang’s failure to install enough track anchors….

“O’Hara said the only person in a position to say whether the tracks were correctly aligned at the time of the accident was the baseball special’s engineman, J. F. Shue of Royalton. He said Shue reported the tracks were faulty — the only persons interviewed so far to make that report.

“O’Hara also said the PUC has learned that two other trains passed over the accident spot where the Harrisburg-to-Philadelphia baseball special was wrecked. One of them was instructed to go slow in the area, he said.

“Meanwhile, President Michael J. Quill of the Transport Workers Union [TWU] said in New York that the railroad’s placing blame for the wreck on maintenance employes is a ‘disgraceful display of irresponsibility not only to workers but to the public who are entitled to ride in safety without fear.’ Quill, who blamed ‘manpower shortage, not manpower failure,’ for the wreck, said, ‘where lay-offs, deferred maintenance and mergers are railroad policy, danger rides the rails. Blaming the workers is a coverup for the Pennsy’s own mismanagement policies…’

“A TWU spokesman said the union does not represent the three foremen who have been suspended because of the accident. However, he said, the union does represent non-operating employes such as track workers.” (Associated Press. “Says Track Sufficiently Anchored.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 8-6-1962, p. 8.)

Aug 18: “Harrisburg (AP)–Nineteen trains had proceeded safely over the stretch of track where a Pennsylvania Railroad baseball excursion train was wrecked July 28, a railroad official said today. R. M. Douglas, Paoli, supervising operator of the railroad’s Philadelphia region, listed the number of trains as the Interstate Commerce Commission [Federal] and the [State] Public Utility Commission opened a joint hearing on the wreck which claimed 19 lives.

“The section of track where the derailment occurred had been repaired only 24 hours earlier.

“At the start of the hearing, the PUC released a transcript of testimony taken from railroad employes earlier this month. This included testimony by R.D. Fritz, Shippensburg R.D.1, a foreman of the maintenance crew who had been working in the spot at nearby Steelton where the wreck occurred. As previously disclosed, Fritz had quit the previous day with only one-half the track anchored in place. It was the crew’s intention to install the other anchors the following Monday. His crew, Fritz said, left the scene about 20 to 25 minutes before quitting time. He had said under cross examination that it would have taken about five more minutes of work to complete installation of the anchors. Fritz had added that it was normal procedure in his five years as the installation of the track anchors over for completion on the next working day.” (AP. “19 Trains Preceded Baseball Special.” Lock Haven Express, PA, 8-18-1962, p. 9.)

Aug 22: “Harrisburg (AP)….A two-day joint public hearing by the PUC and the Interstate Commerce Commission concluded Tuesday [Aug 21] with the dramatic testimony of an ICC investigator that improperly laid track caused the derailment. The investigator, Earl Delaney, of the ICC’s railroad section, added that the wreck was inevitable under the track conditions left by a maintenance crew that had been working at the spot of the derailment in nearby Steelton the day before….

“Delaney said he found:

–Insufficient ballast for the roadbed.

–870 loose tie plates.

–706 spikes not driven all the way.

–23 bent spikes.

–Anchor spikes not installed.

–Improper spacing of ties.

–Track laid without sufficient allowance for expansion.

“These conditions referred to the 33 sections of track just before the spot of derailment….After discussing his findings, Delaney was asked by ICC counsel Francis I. Gafford of Easton, Pa., whether he felt the insufficient ballast, combined with the other track conditions, caused the wreck. ‘Yes sir,’ Delaney replied. Chief Council Joseph I. Lewis of the PUC asked whether these conditions ultimately would have caused a wreck, even if the Baseball Special had passed the spot safely. Delaney again gave a terse, affirmative reply. He further suggested that there should have been an inspection made of the track after the first train passed by Friday afternoon after the maintenance crew had quit for the weekend and cleared the area….

“The engineer and fireman [of the wrecked train] previously testified that the track seemed to be as much as three feet out of line as they approached the spot of derailment. The engineer threw on his emergency brakes. Delaney doubted there could have been that much movement in the track, but he did concede the ballast conditions and others would have permitted the track to shift out of alignment. Ballast, in addition to providing cushion for the track, also serves to keep it in place….

“Information supplied by the railroad indicated that about 180-190 anchor spikes had not been installed when the crew knocked off for the weekend.

“Richard D. Fritz, Shippensburg, R.D.1, general foreman of the 52-man crew and the boss on the scene of the job, told the hearing ‘the track was safe as far as I was concerned when the men stopped Friday afternoon. Fritz said it would have taken another hour and one-half to finish installing the anchors. As for ballast, he said he believed there was a sufficient amount in place….” (Associated Press. “PUC Plans to Continue Railroad Wreck Hearings.” Evening Sun, Hanover, PA, 8-22-1962, p. 5.)

Aug 22: “Harrisburg (AP) — Pennsylvania railroads were ordered by the Public Utility Commission Tuesday night [Aug 21] to travel over sections of track improperly anchored. The action stemmed from two days of hearings conducted by the PUC and the Interstate Commerce Commission into the July 28 train wreck at Steelton which killed 19 persons and injured over 100. An ICC safety expert testified at the hearings that the failure of a Pennsylvania Railroad track crew to restore the proper number of rail anchors in the track was one of half a dozen contributing factors in the wreck. PUC Chairman Joseph Sharfsin said the commission is weighing other orders on track maintenance. ‘This is expected to be the first in a number of corrective interim orders by the commission pending our further hearings in the case,’ he said.” (AP. “Maintenance Policy Shift Ordered by PUC.” Evening Sun, Hanover, PA, 8-22-1962, p. 5.)

Aug 27: “Harrisburg (AP) — As another repercussion of the Steelton train wreck last month, the Public Utility Commission reported it will issue a two-step inspection order for railroads to follow after repairing any section of track in Pennsylvania.

“The report, carried in Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer, said the order will be issued before the PUC begins its formal hearing into the derailment of a Pennsylvania Railroad baseball excursion train last July 28. Nineteen persons were killed. According to the report, the new order will require a first inspection immediately after repair work is completed. The second inspection will be conducted after the first train has passed over the repaired section at slow speed.

“The PUC is to conduct a new hearing on the Steelton Wreck Sept. 10. The Interstate Commerce Commission and the PUC concluded a three-day hearing last week.” (Associated Press. “PUC Will Issue Inspection Order on Track Repairs.” The Progress, Clearfield, PA, 8-27-1962, p. 3.)

Sep 12: “Harrisburg (AP)–Top officials of the Pennsylvania Railroad — testifying at a hearing — have blamed what they termed poor judgment by a track crew foreman for the crash of an PRR baseball excursion train in which 19 persons were killed. Top officials of the PRR laid the blame on Crew Foreman R. D. Fritz… Tuesday [Sep 11] at an all day hearing before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

“At the same time, however, the same officials denied emphatically that the PRR had any policy on overtime that would have prevented a maintenance crew from finishing rehabilitating the track at the scene….

“At an earlier hearing, conducted jointly by the PUC and the Interstate Commerce Commission Fritz testified that he let the anchors go because he did not want to authorize overtime….

“Track anchors are ‘J’ shaped devices used to keep track from sliding forward.

“Newell [PRR VP for operations] pinpointed the cause of the wreck as a ‘lateral side wise deflection of the track due to the fact that there were not enough rail anchors and abrupt changes in the temperature. We hold the supervision responsible for this and the lack of good judgment,’ he added.

“Kohout [PRR Regional Manager] testified on the PRR’s overtime policy, declaring: ‘Our policy has always been that the track should be brought back to proper standards regardless of how much overtime is required.’ Neither Fritz, nor his immediate superior, Alyn V. Levergood, Camp Hill, track supervisor, whose territory included the scene of the wreck, ever have been restricted on the matter of overtime, Kohout declared….” (Assoc. Press. ‘‘Poor Judgment.’ PRR Blames Crew Foreman in Crash Killing 19.” Delaware County Daily Times, PA. 9-12-1962, p. 2.)

Kiner: “The victims were:

Helen Duey Wagner, 52, of Berryhill Street, Harrisburg

Mildred Mentzer, 53, of Cameron Street, Harrisburg

Gregory McLaren, 12, of Boast Street, Penbrook, and his grandmother, Gertrude Beckwith, 76 of the same address

John P. Herman, 61, of Walnut Street, Penbrook

Donald Anderson, 30, of Market Street, Harrisburg

Ruth Crissman, 39, of Locust Alley, Millerstown, and her daughter, Rose Crissman, 16, and her adopted son, Nick, 9

William C. Shields of High Street, Steelton

Clarence I. Wetzler, 44, of Berryhill Street, Harrisburg

Charles W. Hall and his wife, Phyllis M. Hall of Essex Road, Camp Hill

Robert C. Kennedy, 31, of Butler Street, Penbrook

Jane Lauver, 36, of Mexico, Pa.

Florence Mark, 67, of Mifflinburg

David Buchanan, 18, of Eighth Street, Selinsgrove

Monroe Harmes of Poplar Street, Lancaster

Mary B. Hersh, 65, of Moore Street, Darby.”

Sources

Adams, Charles J. III and David J. Seibold. Great Train Wrecks of Eastern Pennsylvania. Reading, PA: Exeter House Books, 1992.

Associated Press. “19 Persons Killed on Baseball Train.” The Derrick, Oil City, PA. 7-30-1962, p. 1. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oil-city-derrick-jul-30-1962-p-1/?tag

Associated Press. “19 Trains Preceded Baseball Special.” Lock Haven Express, PA, 8-18-1962, p. 9. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lock-haven-express-aug-18-1962-p-9/?tag

Associated Press. “25 Known Dead, 120 Injured as Train Carrying Baseball Fans is Wrecked,” Progress-Index, Petersburg-Colonial Heights, VA, 7-29-1962, p. 1. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/petersburg-progress-index-jul-29-1962-p-1/?tag

Associated Press. “Maintenance Policy Shift Ordered by PUC.” Evening Sun, Hanover, PA, 8-22-1962, p. 5. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hanover-evening-sun-aug-22-1962-p-5/?tag

Associated Press. ‘‘Poor Judgment.’ PRR Blames Crew Foreman in Crash Killing 19.” Delaware County Daily Times, PA. 9-12-1962, p. 2. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/delaware-county-daily-times-sep-12-1962-p-2/?tag

Associated Press (Fred Walters). “PUC Plans to Continue Railroad Wreck Hearings.” Evening Sun, Hanover, PA, 8-22-1962, p. 5. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hanover-evening-sun-aug-22-1962-p-5/?tag

Associated Press. “PUC Will Issue Inspection Order on Track Repairs.” The Progress, Clearfield, PA, 8-27-1962, p. 3. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/clearfield-progress-aug-27-1962-p-3/?tag

Associated Press. “Says Track Sufficiently Anchored.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 8-6-1962, p. 8. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indiana-evening-gazette-aug-06-1962-p-8/?tag

Associated Press (Jack Lynch). “Track Alignment Cause of ‘Special’s’ Wreck.” Somerset Daily American, PA. 7-31-1962, p. 1. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-jul-31-1962-p-1/?tag

Haine, Edgar A. Railroad Wrecks. New York: Cornwall Books, 1993.

Kiner, Deb. “‘People flew like matchsticks’: The deadly baseball special train wreck, July 28, 1962.” 7-28-2017, updated 8-15-2017. Accessed 9-21-2017 at: http://www.pennlive.com/life/2017/07/people_flew_like_matchsticks_t.html

Additional Reading

Barton, Michael and Simon J. Bronner. Steelton (Images of America: Pennsylvania). Arcadia Publishing, 2008.

[1] Adams and Seibold quote a steel plant witness: “I saw the engine and five cars go by, but the sixth caught a pole…. It kept on going and hit a second and third pole before it fishtailed and went down the embankment.” (p. 193.)

[2] Wrong — 19 — see next article on initial difficulty counting fatalities.

[3] Adams and Seibold note that there were “120 people crowded into three of…nine cars. The other cars would be filled with more people at stops along the way to Philadelphia.” (p. 193.)

[4] Adams and Seibold write that “As the cars careened off the tracks, they took down high-voltage lines, and those wires sparked brush fires which had to be beaten back before rescuers could reach the wreckage from the track level.” Thus the smoke which was seen for miles.

[5] Adams and Seibold write that “The investigation which followed the wreck determined that a railroad work crew which was working on the tracks did not install enough rail anchors to keep the rails in alignment.” (p. 194.)

[6] Adams and Seibold note that “The limit was 75 m.p.h on that straightaway to the rear of the Bethlehem Steel plant in Steelton.” P. 193.

1962 — July 28, “Baseball” train derails into Susquehanna Riv., Steelton, ~Harrisburg, PA-19