The Aftermath of the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

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I have written before about the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885. See, e.g.:

Monday, September 24, 2007: The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007: More About the 1885 Train Wreck in Pelhamville.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007: The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885 Continued . . .

Thursday, September 27, 2007: Findings of the Coroner's Inquest That Followed the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885.

Friday, December 21, 2007: 1886 Poem Representing Fictionalized Account of the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885.

Bell, Blake A., The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885: "One of the Most Novel in the Records of Railroad Disasters, 80(1) The Westchester Historian, pp. 36-43 (2004).

Recently research has revealed a letter to the editor of a railroad engineer journal published in 1886 that details the recuperation of one of the crew members injured in the wreck and describes the reconstruction and redeployment of the engine that wrecked. The letter is transcribed in full below, followed by a citation to its source.

"NEW HAVEN, CONN, Feb. 17, 1886.

MESSRS. EDITORS: Bro. R. E. Phillips, who went down the bank with his engine at Pelhamville, on the New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R., has so far recovered from his injuries as to be out. It is a pleasant surprise to the boys to see him around again as none of us believed a man could go down such a place as that is and live. His engine, 127, is just out of the shop, and running the Shore Line Limited Express. She has been remodeled somewhat by our Supt. of Motive Power, J. Henney, Jr., and Brother Dane says she is a good one. Mr. Henney has just turned out a new engined, 129, and a beauty she is. Brother Livingston has been breaking her in; she is to go on the limited express via Springfield, a run of 273 miles per day. Brother H. B. Hinckley and Mr. Thompson will be found on the right hand side alternate days.

Will send the JOURNAL, in a few days, some facts and figures pertaining to some of our engines here, which I think will make the boys say, What! HAWKEYE."

Source: New Haven, Conn, Feb. 17, 1886, Monthly Journal Published by The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Vol. XX, No. 4, p. 233 (Apr. 1886).

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