The flagman was seated at the rear of the last car. His first knowledge of the accident was when the brakes were applied in emergency and the car derailed.
5. Postition of the Locomotive and Cars
The first two locomotive units stopped west of the siding with the front end of the first unit 1,031 feet south of the point of derailment. The third and fourth locomotive units stopped upright on the siding and to the rear of the second unit. The first seven cars jackknifed, turned on their sides, and stopped in various positions, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. The next five cars jackknifed but stopped upright across the main tracks. The remaining two cars derailed and stopped in line with the southward main track.
F Results of the Accident
1 Damage to the Locomotive and Cars
The first locomotive unit, No 4031, was heavily damaged and the second unit, No. 4109 was destroyed by the accident and the ensuing fire. The third and fourth units were not damaged so extensively as the other two.
The first six cars were demolished. Their sides were bent and torn, their underframes were damaged, and the roofs of several of the cars were smashed downwards. Most of the windows on the sides of the cars which were in contact with the ground were smashed Many of the seats in the coaches had rotated and some were torn loose from the floor. Unsecured furniture in the coaches, particularly in the dining cars, was thrown around the interior of the cars. Broken rails from the track penetrated several cars in one case, a rail was driven up through the floor in the seat area and in another case a rail penetrated the toilet area. (See Figure 6) Propane tanks on some cars were torn loose and were scattered on the ground, whereas the fittings of others were torn loose The propane, however, did not ignite.
The next four cars were extensively dam- aged, and the rear four cars were damaged to a lesser degree.
2. Casualties
Six persons riding in the head coaches, were ejected through the windows and killed when the cars turned over. Three other pas- sengers were either crushed in the end of a car or were ejected from the end of the car. One person was struck by a crosstie which was thrust through a window and one person apparently was fatally injured when he was thrown around and struck objects inside the car.
Some passengers in the coaches were injured by the rotating seats, some by being thrown against objects or by falling baggage, and others by the crushing of the car's super- structures. Some passengers and employees in the dining car were injured when struck by loose furniture. In addition to the 11 fatalities, 163 passengers and employees were injured.
G Post-Accident Activities
The population of Salem, Illinois, according to the 1970 census, is 6,089. The hospital, with only 37 beds, is provided with limited facilities appropriate to its size and requirements Ambulance service is provided by three funeral homes in Salem. The fire department, manned by volunteers, has two fire engines and one emergency vehicle
Prior to being elected, the Mayor of Salem was associated with the fire department in various capacities and was County Civil Defense Administrator, and, he was instrumental in formulating plans to cope with a catastrophe resulting from any source. Many of these plans were adopted by Salem Although there had been little opportunity to use any of the Civil Defense plans, the officials and people of Salem continued to practice and to improve the system. Salem has a modern system of emer-
gency communications both for notifying a
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