1947 — Feb 17, train-crew bus drives into path of one-car electric train, Andry, IN   —   13

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard 10-15-2023 for upload to: https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–13  Gettysburg Times, PA, “Train Kills 13 Riding in Bus,” February 18, 1947.

–13  Interstate Commerce Commission. Investigation No. 3077…February 17, 1947. 3-19-47, p2.

–13  Traverse City Record Eagle, MI. “Train Kills 13 Riding in Bus.” February 18, 1947.

–13  Wikipedia.  “List of Rail Accidents (Pre-1950).” 

Narrative Information

Interstate Commerce Commission: “Accident at Andry, Ind.,[1] on February, 17, 1947, caused by
failure to operate a bus, approaching a railroad crossing at grade in accordance with requirements
of law.

“On February 17, 1947, there was a collision between a passenger train on the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad and a bus at a highway grade crossing at Andry, Ind.,
which resulted in the death of the driver of the bus and 12 bus passengers, and the injury of 2 train passengers, 14 bus passengers and 2 train-service employees.

“This accident occurred on that part of the railroad extending between South Bend and Michigan City, Ind. … The accident occurred 26.9 miles west of South Bend, at a point 45 feet west of the station at Andry, where the railroad is crossed at grade by Andry Road, The main track
is tangent throughout a distance of about one mile east of the crossing and a considerable distance westward. The grade is 0.198 percent descending westward….

Description of Accident

“No. 26, a west-bound first-class passenger train, consisted of electric-traction car 107. This car s of steel construction, and is operated from a control station at the front end. This train departed from South Bend, 26.9 miles east of Andry, at 2:25 p. m., on time, and while moving at
an estimated speed of 60 miles per hour it struck a bus on a grade crossing 45 feet west of the station at Andry.

“The bus involved was owned and operated by the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad Company….This vehicle was occupied by the driver and 26 maintenance-of-way employees, and was moving southward on the highway at an estimated speed of 3 miles per hour when it entered upon the crossing and was struck by No. 26. The bus was demolished….

Discussion

“No. 26 was approaching the crossing at a speed of about 60 miles per hour, in territory where no maximum speed was specified. The motorman was maintaining a lookout ahead from the control station at the front end of the traction car, and the conductor was in the rear portion of the car. The whistle signal for the crossing was sounded in compliance with the rules, and the last blast of the whistle was being sounded as the front end of the traction car entered upon the crossing. The motorman first observed the bus as it started to move southward on the highway in the immediate vicinity of the crossing. At that time he thought the bus would stop clear of the crossing. When the traction car was about 30 feet east of the crossing the motorman observed that the bus had not been stopped, and he moved the brake valve to emergency position. The brakes of this train had been tested and had functioned properly en route….

“About 3:05 p.m. the bus was started and, without stopping, it entered upon the crossing immediately in front of the approaching train. The driver of the bus was an experienced driver and was familiar with the route. Visibility was not impaired by weather conditions and the driver could have seen the approaching train throughout a considerable distance immediately north of the crossing. The laws of he state of Indiana require drivers of motor vehicles to stop within 50 feet but not less than 10 feet from the nearest railroad track and not to proceed until it is safe to do so. It could not be determined why the driver failed to take action to stop the bus short of the crossing, as he was killed in the accident.

Cause

“It is found that this accident was caused by failure to operate a bus approaching  railroad crossing at grade in accordance with requirements of law.” (Interstate Commerce Commission. Investigation No. 3077, Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad Company, Report in RE Accident, At Andry, Ind., on February 17, 1947. Washington, DC: ICC, 3-19-1947.)

Newspapers

Feb 18, AP: “Michigan City, Ind., Feb. 18 (AP) – Thirteen men, members of a railroad section crew, were killed and 16 other men were injured when a bus carrying the railroad workers was struck by a one-car Chicago, South Shore and South Bend electric train yesterday at the Andry road crossing five miles east of here.” (Gettysburg Times, PA, “Train Kills 13 Riding in Bus,” Feb 18, 1947.)

Feb 18, UP: “Michigan City, Ind., Feb. 18 – (UP) – Witnesses who saw a speeding one-car electric train knife through a big bus load of railroad workers, killing 13 persons and injuring 16 others, said today they could see no cause for the accident. The bus driver, Glenn Morris, Michigan City, had an unobstructed view for miles either way down the track, but apparently did not see the train as it bore down on the bus at 65 to 70 miles an hour at a grade crossing five miles east of here yesterday afternoon.

“Ten of the injured still were in serious condition at Clinic hospital here. All of those killed and 14 of the injured were riding in the bus. They were members of a railroad section gang…who had just completed work on another section of the company’s right-of-way.

”Morris stopped the bus, witnesses said, and then started slowly across the tracks in the path of the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend passenger car. The collision sliced the bus in two, strewing bodies of the dead and the screaming injured along the track. Morris’ body was found 500 yards from the crossing.  W. E. Willard, 45, South Bend, motorman on the suburban train, and one of his passengers were treated for injuries at a hospital and released. The other 25 train passengers continued on their way after transferring to another South Bend-to-Chicago suburban train. Willard said he had no time to stop. He said the bus stopped then slowly moved into the path of his train.”  (Traverse City Record Eagle (MI). February 18, 1947.)

Wikipedia: “February 17, 1947 – Michigan City, Indiana, United States: A westbound Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad train strikes a bus carrying track workers. 13 are killed, 14 others injured.”  (Wikipedia. “List of Rail Accidents (Pre-1950).”)

Sources

Gettysburg Times, PA. “Train Kills 13 Riding in Bus,” February 18, 1947.  Accessed at:  http://www.gendisasters.com/data1/in/trains/michigancity-trainwreckfeb1947.htm

Interstate Commerce Commission. Investigation No. 3077, Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad Company, Report in RE Accident, At Andry, Ind., on February 17, 1947. Washington, DC: ICC, 3-19-1947. Accessed 10-15-2023 at: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/45138

Traverse City Record Eagle, MI. “Train Kills 13 Riding in Bus,” 2-18-1947.  Accessed at:  http://www.gendisasters.com/data1/in/trains/michigancity-trainwreckfeb1947.htm

Wikipedia. “List of Rail Accidents (Pre-1950).” Accessed at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pre-1950_rail_accidents

[1] Today [2023] Andry is a Michigan City neighborhood.