West Brookfield, Massachusetts, USA
1907 - 1 DEAD, 5 INJURED IN WRECK. Passenger Express and Freight Trains in Head-On Collision

WEST BROOKFIELD, Mass., Nov. 9. - The Southwestern Express, No. 46, on the Boston & Albany Division of the New York Central Railroad, bound for Boston, collided head-on with a freight train near this station at 10:40 A. M. to-day. Charles Hyde of Boston, a brakeman on the express, was killed, and four other members of the express train crew and one passenger on the express were severely injured.

They are E. Patrick, conductor, of Boston, internally injured, probably fatally hurt; T. H. Smith, brakeman, Boston, right leg broken; A. A. Harris, cook, of Boston, right hand crushed and injured about the head.

Patrick Connor of Boston, fireman on the express, cut about the head and severe internal injuries; taken to Worcester City Hospital, condition dangerous. George A. Battersby of Boston, passenger on express; ribs broken and body badly burned.

The express was an hour late, and the engineer was taking advantage of the ten miles of level track before the Charlton Station.

A special freight train, No. 3, 635, bound west, had been ordered to take a switch about 100 yards west of here, and permit another freight train, also going west, to pass it. The special freight was standing on the eastbound track when the express came rushing toward it, and before the speed of the latter could effectually be checked it had plunged head on into the engine of the freight. The engineers and firemen saw the collision about to occur and jumped, all but Connor escaping serious injuries.

Directly behind the engine of the express was a buffet car which was reduced to fragments. As it was the middle of the forenoon there were no passengers in the car. Many persons in the rear cars, however, were severely shaken by the shock of the collision, but Mr. Battersby was the only one seriously hurt. He was in the coach next to the buffet car.

The New York Times
New York, New York
November 10, 1907

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