Redondo Junction train wreck
Encyclopedia
The Redondo Junction train wreck occurred at 17:42 on the evening of January 22, 1956, on the Santa Fe Railroad in Los Angeles
. The accident happened at Redondo Junction, just southwest of Boyle Heights near Washington Boulevard
and the Los Angeles River
; it killed 30 people and injured 117 more. It was the first major disaster in the LA area covered on live television, and the worst train wreck in the city's history.
The train comprised two RDCs (Budd Rail Diesel Car
s) which ran two return trips daily on the San Diegan
(train numbers 80-83) between the more conventional streamliner
s. The service was very reliable although often overcrowded. They had quick acceleration but engineers complained that the brakes were very poor; often inexperienced drivers completely passed stations at which they were supposed to stop. 61-year old Frank Parrish, the engineer on the fateful day was experienced on the line but was making only his second round trip on RDCs.
The train left Union Station
fully loaded. After leaving the interlocking
control of Mission Tower (signal box), the sharp curve of Redondo Junction (which had a speed limit of 15 mph) was normally reached in six minutes; but the RDC's could reach the junction in only two. The tower man (signalman) at the junction saw the cars turn over onto their left sides as they approached the junction and slide with a shower of sparks, and then total darkness. He immediately called the emergency services who were quickly on the scene along with railroad staff from the adjacent Los Angeles Roundhouse
. The accident prompted one of the first Sig alert
s to be raised by the Los Angeles Police Department
, causing mass traffic jams as medical staff and sightseers rushed to the scene. The media soon arrived and within an hour of the wreck KTLA
Channel 5 was broadcasting live from the scene; floodlights to illuminate the grisly scene being donated by nearby movie studios. In all 30 people were killed and a further 117 injured.
The enquiry into the accident estimated that the speed of the train to be 69 mph at the point it derailed, far in excess of the 15 mph speed limit. No charges were ever brought against Frank Parrish, who admitted sole responsibility for the accident but claimed to have blacked out before the accident. He did not run a train again and took early retirement from the railroad.
After being repaired the cars concerned, DC191 and DC192 were returned to service outside California. DC 191 has survived and as of January 2009 was being restored by the Pacific Railroad Society.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The accident happened at Redondo Junction, just southwest of Boyle Heights near Washington Boulevard
Washington Boulevard (Los Angeles)
Washington Boulevard is the longest continuous east-west arterial road in Los Angeles, California. It starts by the Pacific Ocean just west of Pacific Avenue in Marina del Rey, and ends far to the east in the city of Whittier, on Whittier Boulevard. It is south of Venice Boulevard for most of its...
and the Los Angeles River
Los Angeles River
The Los Angeles River is a river that starts in the San Fernando Valley, in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains, and flows through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the western end of the San Fernando Valley, nearly southeast to its mouth in Long Beach...
; it killed 30 people and injured 117 more. It was the first major disaster in the LA area covered on live television, and the worst train wreck in the city's history.
The train comprised two RDCs (Budd Rail Diesel Car
Budd Rail Diesel Car
The Budd Rail Diesel Car, RDC or Buddliner is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit railcar. In the period 1949–62, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
s) which ran two return trips daily on the San Diegan
San Diegan
The San Diegan was one of the named passenger trains of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and a "workhorse" of the railroad. Its 126-mile route ran from Los Angeles, California south to San Diego. It was assigned train Nos. 70–79 The San Diegan was one of the named passenger trains of the...
(train numbers 80-83) between the more conventional streamliner
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
s. The service was very reliable although often overcrowded. They had quick acceleration but engineers complained that the brakes were very poor; often inexperienced drivers completely passed stations at which they were supposed to stop. 61-year old Frank Parrish, the engineer on the fateful day was experienced on the line but was making only his second round trip on RDCs.
The train left Union Station
Union Station (Los Angeles)
Los Angeles Union Station is the main railway station in Los Angeles, California. The station has rail services by Amtrak and Amtrak California and Metrolink; light rail/subways are the Metro Rail Red Line, Purple Line, Gold Line. Bus rapid transport runs on the Silver Line...
fully loaded. After leaving the interlocking
Interlocking
In railway signalling, an interlocking is an arrangement of signal apparatus that prevents conflicting movements through an arrangement of tracks such as junctions or crossings. The signalling appliances and tracks are sometimes collectively referred to as an interlocking plant...
control of Mission Tower (signal box), the sharp curve of Redondo Junction (which had a speed limit of 15 mph) was normally reached in six minutes; but the RDC's could reach the junction in only two. The tower man (signalman) at the junction saw the cars turn over onto their left sides as they approached the junction and slide with a shower of sparks, and then total darkness. He immediately called the emergency services who were quickly on the scene along with railroad staff from the adjacent Los Angeles Roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
. The accident prompted one of the first Sig alert
Sig Alert
A Sig Alert is defined by the California Highway Patrol as "any unplanned event that causes the closing of one lane of traffic for 30 minutes or more." Sig Alerts are issued by the CHP and are posted on their website, broadcast on radio and television stations throughout California, and signalled...
s to be raised by the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
, causing mass traffic jams as medical staff and sightseers rushed to the scene. The media soon arrived and within an hour of the wreck KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
Channel 5 was broadcasting live from the scene; floodlights to illuminate the grisly scene being donated by nearby movie studios. In all 30 people were killed and a further 117 injured.
The enquiry into the accident estimated that the speed of the train to be 69 mph at the point it derailed, far in excess of the 15 mph speed limit. No charges were ever brought against Frank Parrish, who admitted sole responsibility for the accident but claimed to have blacked out before the accident. He did not run a train again and took early retirement from the railroad.
After being repaired the cars concerned, DC191 and DC192 were returned to service outside California. DC 191 has survived and as of January 2009 was being restored by the Pacific Railroad Society.
External links
- Bad Night at Redondo Junction, By Loren B. Joplin from the Los Angeles Fire DepartmentLos Angeles Fire DepartmentThe Los Angeles Fire Department is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles....
Historical Archive - ICCInterstate Commerce CommissionThe Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
Report No.3675 - Santa Fe Budd RDC-1 DC-191 preserved