Trolleys Of Our Past

[jon]

STOOD ON TROLLEY
TRACKS AT ILION
______________________________


JAMES DAMGARD OF THAT VILLAGE THROWN TEN FEET
______________________________


He Ran to the Stop and Pulled Signal to Stop Car - Was Alive When Picked Up, But Died in a Few Minutes

Ilion June 17, Signalman James Damgard, a well known and respected resident of Ilion, was killed last evening at stop No. 17, between the Reese and Bargy roads, west of the village.

[jon]

Mr. Dangard was seen approaching the stop running. He pulled the rope which operated the electric signal, then stepped directly in front of the train which was then about ten feet distant. Mr. Damgard was thrown about ten feet. The car stopped and backed up to the scene of the accident. Mr. Pamgard was in an unconscious condition. He was put aboard and taken to the West Shore station in Ilion. The railroad physician Dr. R. W. Warner, was summoned and also Coroner Coffin. It was found that the skull had been ruptured. Mr. Damgard died a few minutes the car crew brought him to Ilion Station, and the Coroner, after viewing the body, gave orders to remove it to M. D. Angel's undertaking rooms. Mr. Damgard had been a resident of of Ilion for a good many years. He is survived by his wife and four children, one son, Dick Dungard of Newark N. J.; Three daughters, Mrs. John Somenson of Frankfort, Mrs. William Harif of Utica and Mrs. William Zoller of Fort Plain.


UTICA OBSERVER - DECEMBER 27, 1907

[jon]

THE WORK BEGUN
______________________________

The Belt Line Railroad Company yesterday had men at work repairing the pavement between its tracks on Genesee street. This is the work ordered by the Council last May. The Council yesterday granted the company permission to extend its tracks on Court, Blandina and South streets.

UTICA DAILY PRESS - 1890

[jon]

GENESEE STREET BRIDGE
______________________________

Superintendent of Public Works Edward Banuso has served on the Utica Clinton & Binghamton Railroad Company notice to repair Genesee street bridge in accordance with the terms of the bond given by it, to the State in 1888. The company hasn't a copy of the bond, and said it has, will probably not act in the matter.If by the terms of the bond it is required to repair the bridge, it will undoubtedly call on the lease, the Utica Belt Line Railroad Company to make the repairs in accordance with the terms of the lease printed to these columns yesterday. The bridge has now been blockaded two weeks. Temporary repairs might have been completed 10 days ago at very small cost had the Belt Line Railroad Company so desired.

UTICA DAILY PRESS - 1890

[jon]

REPORTERS CHIPS
______________________________


Second annual picnic of the motormen and conductors of the Bleecker Street Railroad, at Utica Park Thursday. There will be bicycle and other interesting races.

UTICA DAILY PRESS - AUGUST 13, 1893

[jon]

NOT THE ONLY ONE
_________________________


Robert N. Ross of 325 Sunset avenue has a grievance against the Utica Belt Line Street Railroad Company. This morning Mr. Ross, who was standing on the corner of Newell and Genesee streets, signaled a car to stop. The motorman paid no attention to him and the car went by at a rapid rate. Later Mr. Ross boarded a car, but had a hard time trying to have the conductor stop it.


UTICA HERALD DISPATCH - 1900

[jon]

EARLIER CARS
____________


Change Is Roaming Schedule of South Street Electrics


Beginning with this morning a new schedule went into effect on the South Street branch of the Utica & Mohawk Valley Street Railway and hereafter the first car will leave Main street depot at 6:03 a. m., instead of 6:09 a. m. The last car will leave at 12:18 a. m., instead of 11:49 a. m. a 7 1/2 minute schedule instead of 10 minute also prevails.

UTICA HERALD DISPATCH - NOVEMBER 18, 1902

[jon]

BELT LINE FENDERS
__________________


Every Car to be Equipped Within a Few Days
__________________


BEST LIFE SAVING DEVICE
__________________


Consignment Already Received From the Consolidated Fender Company, Providence, R. I. - How the Fenders Operate - Commendable Effort on the Part of the Part of the Railroad Company

[jon]

The Belt Line Company has received from the Consolidated Fender Company of Providence, R. I. a consignment of Providence fenders, ordered November 1, which will be put in use on all the company's cars within a few days. This fender is conceded to be the best lifesaving device for street cars. It has just been adapted by the Metropolitan traction company, which practically controls the surface railway system of New York, and is in use on the Albany and Troy street railways and other well managed roads in this country. The action of the Belt Line Company in taking this means to protect life, without a municipal mandate, will undoubtedly meet with popular approval. Some time ago a resolution was introduced in the Common Council to President Reagan requiring railroad companies to place fenders on its cars. The resolution was pigeon-holed by the democratic majority.

The fender is composed of two distinct parts, the cradle and the cushion. The cradle, six feet wide and three feet long, is formed of curved steel rims. The back of the cradle is hinged to the front of the platform with trunnions, so that it may be turned up against the car, rest with its front edge on the track or occupy any intermediate position.

[jon]

The front edge of the cradle is formed of a steel rod passing through the ends of the curved rods, which are bent to clasp it. On this rod are rubber rolls, one and three-fourths inches in diameter, one between every two ribs. A steel bar projecting under the rear of the platform holds the cradle at any desired hight from the ground, by means of a latch or trigger, which being pressed with the foot, releases the cradle so that the front edge drops to the ground.

The cushion is a resilient shield, made of carefully tempered steel bands which cover the iron bumper and all other projecting parts of the platform, so as to effectually cushion the blow, in case a person is struck by a rapidly moving car. the cushion is hinged to the cradle, so that the two form one fender. In service the fender is generally carried with its front from six to ten inches above the track. Whenever the motorman finds he is about to collide with an object on the track, he presses a bolt head with his foot. This causes the fender to drop, and if the object is a human being, he may be picked up by the cradle completely uninjured.

[jon]

"In very many cases of accident, if not a majority, the person injured is more the cause of the injury than any other person or thing," said President Boyle yesterday. "So many people seem to forget that the present improved manner of street travel by electric cars is entirely different from the old horse car system, and that because of the dimensions and weight of electric cars, they can not be stopped or handled within the time or short distances required to stop or manage a horse car; hence, either from carelessness or otherwise, many take chances they should not. The use of fenders therefore, would not prevent accidents, nor are they any guarantee that injury or death will not result in case of accident. Their use simply reduces a certainly to a possibility. If a person gets in a position to be struck by a moving car noy provided with life guards or fenders, injury or death is certain. If however, the car is provided with a fender, there is a possibility of a partial escape from injury. It is to contribute to this later condition that the Belt Line Company has adopted its system of fenders. There is no law requiring the use of fenders by surface roads, but the management of roads are usually interested to avoid accidents."


UTICA HERALD DISPATCH - DECEMBER 2, 1898

[Dave]

Operation and description of use:

www.cable-car-guy.com/html/ccmanbl4_b.html#safe

[jon]

SERIOUS WRECK
NEAR HERKIMER
__________________


Trolley Line Gravel Train Strikes Carload of Rails
__________________


BRAKEMAN FATALLY HURT
__________________


Several Men Were Caught in the Wreak But John McGara of Little Falls Was the Most Seriously Injured - Accident Due to Misunderstanding

[jon]

A bad accident happened on the line of the Utica & Mohawk Valley Railway at Small's crossing about three miles east of Herkimer at 11 o'clock this morning. Three men were injured. Brakeman John McGarr of Little Falls had both legs broken and his chest crushed and the doctors who attended him said he would probably die.

Construction of the road is being pushed in the vicinity of Small's crossing and a large gang of men is at work there. This morning S. A. Seymour of Little Falls, foreman of the gravel train, told a gang of laborers who were busy transporting rails on a hand car that he would soon be along with a load of gravel. He intended this as a warning. The train, which consisted of ten loaded cars hauled by a locomotive, came along and rounding a curve came upon the hand car which was being loaded with rails. There was a terrific crash of several of the gravel cars were piled in a heap. Engineer Henry L. Lorenis saved himself by jumping. One of his hands was sprained and his face was cut. Fireman Michael Jenn8ings remained on the engine. His face and right shoulder were bruised.

[jon]

There were two brakemen on the train, John McGarr and John Barcock. McGarr fell between two cars. His left leg was crushed and broken and the right fractured at the ankle. His chest was crushed in, a big gash was cut in his right thigh and he was injured internally. Drs. Harter, Graves, Kay and Peck of Herkimer and Drs. E. H. Douglass, A. O. Douglass and Hunt of Little Falls were summoned and arrived soon. McGarr was taken to the residence of George Small where his injuries were attended to. Arrangements were made to take him to the hospital at Little Falls. Father of Little Falls came with the doctors from that place.

At 2:30 this afternoon it was reported from Little Falls that McGarr was sinking rapidly.


UTICA HERALD DISPATCH - SEPTEMBER 24, 1902