Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Latrobe Bulletin
Wednesday, March 8, 1916
Carload of Wine Leaks, Causing Lot of Trouble For Pennsylvania R. R.
Derry, Pa., March 8th, 1916
A knotty problem which revolved about a carload of Sherry wine, said to be worth $35,000, has been troubling the Pennsylvania Railroad officials since early yesterday morning. The car was partially wrecked, and the company has since been trying to save the valuable contents.
On account of the wrecking of another car, near Beatty, early yesterday morning, a big tank car, holding 7,483 gallons of fine Sherry wine, was derailed. One of the trucks was driven along under the car and broke off the large valve under the center of the car, though which the contents are drained from the car.
The wine started to gush forth. The company rushed the car to Derry, after replacing the damaged truck, and started to find some way to stop the flow of wine. All day yesterday, and all night last night the wine continued to flow, and was still flowing today.
No way could be found to repair or replace the smashed valve. Blocking by wood was tried, but proved ineffectual. An S.O.S. call was sent out all over the Pennsylvania Lines, in an effort to secure an empty wine car, but as these are western cars, and are not loaded in this section an empty wine car is almost as hard to find as a million dollars hanging to a tree.
After the car was placed on the shop track yesterday, arrangements were made to catch the wine which was gushing from underneath the car. A frame was built, and a trough installed. The wine was conducted into large buckets, which were then lifter to the top of the car and the wine poured back again.
This was the only possible solution of the problem, as no suitable receptacles could be found in which to store the wine.
A canvas protection was erected about the car and a fire started. A number of men were detailed all the time to pour the wine back in the car. This was kept up all day yesterday and all through the night, various shifts of men being put on the job.
At ten oclock this morning the men were still pouring. It was reported then that an empty wine car had been found on another division, and was to be rushed to Derry as quickly as possible.
The wrecked car is leaking at several points, and some hundred gallons of wine have probably been entirely lost. The capacity of the car is 7,483 gallons, and it was full when wrecked. An official of the company is authority for the statement that the wine is valued at more than five dollars per gallon, and that the contents of the car are worth over $35,000. The car came from California, and the wine is intended, it is said, for the high class eastern trade.