BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this day the horrific, deadly Malbone Street wreck on the BRT snuffed out nearly 100 lives, beneath the streets of Brooklyn.

It was this wreck that later banned wooden rolling stock from operating underground, and banishing the "Composites" to the Manhattan Els.

Years ago, my mother told me that a neighbor of my grandmother's lost a relative in that tragic accident.........

"NYO"

["BROOKLYN RAPID TRANSIT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Frightening.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?94284

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?114322

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["B.R.T."]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malbone_Street_wreck

["726"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is another excellent (illustrated) page...........

https://nytransitmuseum.org/Malbone/

["PARK ROW"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also of interest...........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMT_Franklin_Avenue_Line

["SS"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

I.I.N.M., the "Composites" were actually exiled to the Manhattan els starting in 1916, after the first "Lo-V's" began taking their place on the subways. Preceding by two years the Malbone Street wreck. But that sealed the deal in wooden cars being banned from underground, for sure.

As a result of which most of that thoroughfare has since been renamed Empire Boulevard.

John F. Hylan was Mayor at the time of this premeditated carelessness. He used this incident to ram forth his anti-"traction interests" agenda - and agitate for a new municipally-operated subway (which would come to be the "Eye-En-Dee," originally the "Independent" system). Many Dual Contracts portions (of both "traction companies") remained uncompleted until after he was out of office.

Furthermore, this was one of the factors that, at the end of 1918, plunged the "Bee-Are-Tee" into bankruptcy, later to be superseded in 1923 after reorganization by the "Bee-Em-Tee."

So it wasn't just in those people that died or were injured in the wreck. It was the fallout all around.

Finally, both of Stan Fischler's subway books, in the chapter on the worst rapid transit disasters, led with this.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Recall that, when the State Street Subway opened in "Shik-aga" in the early 1940s, it was a train of 4000s that did the honors.

First off, these were the newest CRT cars, but also, they were STEEL (at that time, with the exception of the 4000s, the CRT's fleet was all wooden rolling stock)

It was obvious that the "See-Are-Tee" was thinking of SAFETY, in lieu of what they obviously knew about the 1918 Malbone Street wreck.

Certainly, the loss of life would have been less if the ill-fated BRT train had made up of steel equipment, but, then again, look at the 1928 "Eye-Are-Tee" Times Square disaster, which, of course, involved all-steel equipment........

"NYO"

["INTERBOROUGH RAPID TRANSIT COMPANY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just thought of this.......

I seem to recall a photo (cannot recall where I saw it) from the 1970s that depicted a minor derailment not far from the 1918 wreck; can anyone else here shed more light on this?

Thanks.....

"NYO"

["1 BRIGHTON"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also........

It is important to remember that, at the time of the 1918 disaster, the BRT's rapid transit fleet was still largely made up of wooden El cars (also, recall the network of EL lines that then radiated out of Park Row)

At that time, the "Steels" were still very much in the ultra-minority in the BRT fleet............

"NYO'

["2527"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Regarding the structural stability of all-steel rolling stock, in serious accidents, steel construction itself can also be quite unforgiving, as seen here of an unfortunate "R-1" at the 207th Street yard, back in 1960 (let's hope there was no loss of life)............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?159543

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["BB 6TH AVE LOCAL"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Thanks for the info on that derailment; I was leaning towards either the "Toity-Twos" or "R-34s".

I knew I could recall seeing a photo, somewhere, quite awhile ago...........

"NYO"

["SS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are two 1950s-era photos of a pretty mangled "R-16" (again, hope there were no fatalities)

This mishap was the result of a nasty altercation with a BMT "Brooklyn Battleship" (aka "Steel")

Note, also, the B&QT PCC (the lone "CLARK" unit)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?150172

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?150171

['A.C.F."]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling now this messy "Eye-Are-Tee" encounter, earlier this year...............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?161248

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["2414"]