Grandview Wreck November 21, 1961

From Prince’s book page 905. Derailment at Mile 43, one of the worst derailments in recent years on The Alaska Railroad. A southbound freight train, powered by six diesel units and pulling 80 cars, left Anchorage the night of November 21 for Seward. The run was uneventful until they rounded a curve south of Grandview. There, less than 500 feet ahead, a tremendous snowslide was coming down the mountain. Unable to halt the train, the locomotives plowed into the moving snow. The weight and pressure of the snow derailed all six diesel units and the first car. There were no injuries to the crew.

Retired ARR mechanic Jerry Peters adds, "Derailment at Grandview.  The consist was all F-7’s.  One engine, the 1501 was damaged beyond repair.  It was replaced with the 2000, (2504) an EMD GP-30 2250 hp. unit.  My Dad was on the Wrecking Train and spent a couple of weeks getting everything picked-up and put where they belonged."

 

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Page created 2/10/20 and last updated 2/10/20