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July 31, 1922. Laurel, Maryland. "Two B&O freights wrecked in head-on crash at Laurel switch." National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.
Both trucks are arch bars, probably from the car in the background. The arch bar straps are clearly visible in the upended truck as are the bolts and nuts holding the journal box(es) in place.
I note one of the early 'one-lung' gasoline speeder is in front (#33) followed by what is probably Buda pushcar.
As far as getting the loco back into service; although the boiler stayed tight (it still appears to be venting steam), the front of the loco is going to need a lot of 'unbending' to make the smoke box tight plus replacing all the front end jewelry.
It is also interesting to see that the derailed steel trucks are a mixture of styles- the one on front is an arch bar truck but the back is a heavier cast truck.
Called an 'Earth Fault' in UK.
On single track mainline, every so often there will be a passing track. When two trains meet, the usual procedure as directed by dispatcher via train orders is for one train to "hold the main" and the other to "take siding" in order for the two trains to pass. When two trains meet as these two did, such an unfortunate "event" is quite commonly referred to by railroaders as "a cornfield meet"!
Ironically, the railroading term for that state of affairs is "on the ground."
Plenty of newspaper coverage on this one including account that there were no deaths as all six crew members jumped before impact. One suffered a broken leg. Not sure where the other locomotive is but the one shown, having not suffered a boiler explosion, looks to be readily able to be put back in service.
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