Finding A Train Wreck

[@mikeymike758]

Those notches are where the lumberjacks would place boards to stand on to cut above the wide trunk of the tree. :-)

[@widgeonslayer]

Spring boards

[@itsjustkevin6652]

I was going to mention that same thing... Glad I checked the comments first

[@mikeymike758]

@@widgeonslayer Yes. :-) EDIT: They would stand on them 6-12 ft. up and use a big ass long hand saw, one on each side. The old push pull method, when men were men, before gas chainsaws. Cheers, :-)

[@widgeonslayer]

@@mikeymike758 cross cut saws "misery whips". If you know where to look there are stumps here that have them. One I know of that still has the remnants of the boards.

[@mikeymike758]

@@widgeonslayer Cool eh? I've seen many of these old growth cedars with the notches in them when I lived and camped out west. Never saw one with the springboard still attached. Cheers

[@boylesterminalshops6841]

That box you pointed out is called a journal box. There were one of those for each wheel on the car as the end of the axle would go inside of that box and the box would be mounted to the truck frame. The end of the axle would sit in a brass bearing, and the box would be filled with oil and packing to keep things lubricated. This style were known as friction bearings

[@marknelsonmovies6093]

To expand on that a little, the pieces at the end of the video are the frames that would have mounted to the truck (name for the wheelset of a train car) and held the journal box and a spring to provide some level of suspension. The brass bearings themselves are probably long gone, either salvaged right after the wreck, or taken later by some passerby.

[@bubbadump8676]

Great assessment guys. 2 thumbs up

[@maxrshelltrack7443]

They're called trucks.

[@flashy5150]

This is a time when I really wish my dad was still alive. He used to be a conductor and crew leader on trains and he could tell us both ever little part of a train and what it does.

[@concept5631]

Sorry for your loss.

[@stephaniewanek2014]

I love how mother nature starts reclaiming her area.

[@anonymousadult]

I know! Even eating thru the metal!

[@eriklarson9137]

It's a nice reminder that she'll be eating you up soon enough as well.

[@anonymousadult]

@@eriklarson9137 very true

[@bubbadump8676]

All of us will eve8be consumed by MN

[@lindajoy7208]

I love finding out the history of relics from the past. Such a shame it ended in a death and very honorable that you named him.

[@robertsnyder5149]

Those parts are to the old track layer. If you driveout to the end of 208th and walk through the woods down the old RR grade, you will come to the town of Kariston. A giant shingle mill used to be there at one time and the railroad went on down to Fall City.

[@loganjohnson3589]

Just to let you all know those boards were called spring boards and there use fell out of favor in the late thirties with the advent of the chain saw .if you find these notches cut into a stump today consider yourself blessed .If you do find one or more of these notches in a standing stump that stump is most likely a cedar tree stump. good hunting.

[@Psychlist1972]

0:56 journal box. It goes over the ends of the wheels, attaching it to the rest of the side frame. Filled with grease and packing. The little door on the end has broken off.

[@mariebennett5739]

the slots in the tree trunks are made by loggers to fit their jigger boards into when felling the trees or setting up hi lines etc

[@johndavies9270]

The Billmayer & Small item is what in Britain we would call a horn block - American railroads may have a different name. It would be bolted to the timber frame of a car bogie (GB) or truck (US) and hold the journal boxes you found at the start of the film. There would be one of these at each end of every axle. This possibly came from the carriage, the wooden truck frames having rotted away long, long ago. An interesting film, thanks very much.

[@eddie8279]

The cuts in the tree stump were for the loggers to use for foot boards when felling the tree.

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

It’s been said countless times now. But good job Eddie.

[@oldenweery7510]

The item you show at 8:49 is a "Journal Pedestal." Journal boxes (described by Boyles Terminal Shops below) were mounted either directly to the side sills a 4-wheel railroad cars, such as the small "bobber" cabooses, or to hardwood beams of "truck sideframes." I have four or five O scale (1/4"=1', 1/48) models of bobber cabooses (AKA "cabeese" by some modelers), with several different styles of journal pedestals, from plain to ornate. (The casting you show at 9:35 is from a broken and very plain journal pedestal.) Unfortunately, due to their usually temporary tracks and sometimes no air brakes in equipment, train wrecks were not uncommon on logging railroads. Interesting video, Chris. Stay safe, everybody.

[@Dianeh12]

There is a great book entitled Wood & Iverson, Loggers of Tiger Mountain, by Ken Schmelzer, Oso Publishing, 2001, with the whole story on this accident at Holder Creek in 1925. Schmelzer reports the train was pulled by a Climax Locomotive, one of four on the W&I roster. The heavily damages locomotive was completely rebuilt in the W&I machine shop and operated until the end of their operations on Tiger Mountain. Loved the vid.

[@mkervelegan]

Does Chris scuba dive? Because there’s a very cool submerged group of trains off the Jersey Shore near Long Branch. They’ve been there since the mid-1850s.

[@emichael6293]

During WWII, scrap metal drives resulted in a lot of abandoned early century equipment being reclaimed from the woods. Very surprised to find this wreck was left. Must have been remote and inaccessible at the time.

[@48vitom]

The notches in the tree were probably from a lumberjack. They would put a board in the notch and stand on the board. The lower one is a single used as a step, the top two together were used as a platform to stand on and do the cut. You'll see lumberjacks on KZbin doing this as shows in Alaska.

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

I’m actually pretty surprised he had no idea about that. Definitely from back in the day logging

[@poison_ivy7099]

The train wreck was due to overloaded items on the train cars. There was a fire in one of the camps and they were salvaging what they could to bring to Hobart but when it got to the downhill it lost control. Part of the train wrapped around a tree. I love these kinds of videos lol

[@Rob-n3h7d]

The Notches in the stumps are for spring boards. The loggers would use them to get up above the swell butt. In a tree does grow out but it also grows up. Do you spring boards all the way up into the 40s.

[@timcole9305]

Those notches are for lumberjack springboards. They are used to gain height on the tree to get a more optimal place to cut it down. They would have been there prior to the train wreck, if, as you said, that entire area was previously clear cut. I grew up on Tiger Mt (60s and 70s) and our property had many such stumps with springboard notches. BTW, there are other trails just off Tiger Mt Rd where you can find old coal mining equipment, rails, wheels, even some mine openings. We used to camp up there as kids. Also, if you are really interested in old train stuff, just on the other side of Snoqualmie Falls, back in the trees, there's an old train graveyard full of old cars, locomotives, etc. Not sure how you'd get permission to go back there but it's (was) fascinating. Last time I visited there was 1981.

[@nort4890]

"Finding a Train Wreck" My professor opening up that exam I just failed

[@svingysvingy]

That’s hilarious

[@JChrisTurner1234]

How did you get to be so adorable, Chris? From your laid back style, adorable face, excellent content, relaxing voice you rock! I just can't get enough!

[@tomnaro]

The marks in the tree were from the workers who logged the area. They would cut a notch into the tree and insert a spring board bassically building a ladder to get to the height they wanted to cut the tree. I am willing to bet they used that tree as a mast for a yarder (crane suspended onncables) to shunt the logs to landings

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

What a silly guy he is sometimes! Thinking the train did that when it’s clearly from loggers

[@JulianaBlewett]

@4:30, I'm pretty sure that's a remnant of the track laying car. My late father worked for the Hennepin street car line, the Great Northern and a local freight/light rail commuter line for the bulk of his career, as well as running old steam engines. He was a library of train knowledge.

[@danweiss4928]

The other people are right them notches are where the loggers put the spring boards that they still down to cut down the tree. I am from a family of loggers for the last hundred years. Just google springboards/Logging. But you make the best videos. So informative.

[@arnepianocanada]

No flashy effects, distracting music or other jazzing-up.... your work shows devoted, respectful integrity.

[@fabio40]

0:50 seconds. That is a journal box. The wheel bearings are housed in there. 8:40 minutes. The journal boxes slid up and down within this. 9:20 is the same thing as the previous item, just the opposite side. The Billmeyer and Smith Co. manufactured railway cars at that time.

[@Hemp1972]

I really like the high historical value you almost unnoticeably slide into our brains. Here in Holland there's no space for abandoned awesomeness. Keep it up, stay safe. 🔆

[@jamestombe5913]

That’s a journal box, it was packed with grease sticks that would melt as the journal got hot from friction and served to lubreacte the bearings , carman would pull the old ones out and repack them every departure . Thanks now I feel old just for knowing that 🤣

[@dennisweikel1534]

Most of the cars were mostly wooden at that time which is why you're not seeing complete cars. Marks in the tree are what they cut out to stick boards into to stand on so they can cut it down in the optimum spot

[@MarksKicksOnRoute66]

Simply put I'm so glad that algorithms led me to your channel Chris! There's none like you. Unique content is definitely your strength.

[@kristinewilson5353]

I agree he has great content. Ive binged watched all his videos

[@jonka1]

@8:47 that is a frame to hold an axle box. The box slides up and down the rectangular slot as the leaf springs flex.

[@Kieorasama]

If you’re looking for another old train wreck in the area. Look up “ring of fire train wreck” it’s located along Vance creek I believe. There is so much more to see with that one and it’s really cool!

[@chrisregpick]

The marks in the Tree are from loggers. They make a small notch in the tree, and place a board in them. To stand on when cutting. They are everywhere in BC. All over the stumps on my property. Those notches are too clean to be a crash. You can see old videos of loggers cutting trees downs while standing on boards.

[@ryandavis7593]

The horseshoe looking item is what is known as a bearing box pedestal. A very nice example from the 1880s.

[@georgecostanza9387]

Crazy how some of that steel is disintegrated and some looks like it’s only been there for a month

[@peterolsen3797]

when you have a chance, look up wrought iron

[@jonka1]

The wrought iron has rotted, the cast iron has not. This is normal.

[@georgecostanza9387]

@@jonka1 I’ve seen a lot of really rusted cast iron that isn’t that old

[@StringerMedia]

Awesome stuff. Some people find small things like this boring but even a little thing from a big event left behind is interesting

[@lisad476]

This is so cool. I never heard of the railroad accident and lived in wash for while. Those are springboard holes in the tree. The loggers stood on boards to cut the tree. Thankyou for this very cool history walk

[@Astinsan]

I don’t think its a journal box as some say. I think it is a friction wedge or the connection fulcrum where the center of the spring pack is connected to the wheel trucks in the bogie...

[@Rebel9668]

Logging railroads were never up to the standards of regular railroads too. Usually narrow gauge running on unballasted track and using raw timber for ties and locomotives with geared driving systems that were pretty slow, but could climb ridiculously steep grades compared to mainline locomotives of the time.

[@ImTHATguy...]

Born and raised in Spokane, have lots of family in the Seattle area, I study the local and state history and I haven't stumbled onto this story yet. Pretty crazy.

[@goochI034]

Those marks in the tree are likely from when the trees were cut down. They would chop a notch out of the tree and wedge a board into the notch for something to stand on as they made the cut into the tree.

[@SmallWonda]

Fascinating as sad to see - but clearly demonstrates how quickly metal rusts away in a forest environment - will be little left in another 100-years. Also, harsh to think of human against that metal, rolling & careening down the hillside - would have been terrifying... Thanks for taking us along. Merry Christmas! 👍🦘🐾🎅🙏

[@arnepianocanada]

The notches, still so straight-edged,and could not have lasted through later tree growth without closing up gradually. I agree with Mikey Mike.

[@walterbeech]

8:41, the heavy casting with writing is off the passenger car's wheel truck, the slot held the journal boxing for the axle. I got them on my old cars.

[@jonka1]

@7:55 The metal embeded in the tree has not risen at all. Tree growth upwards is only at the tips of the trunk and all other growth is out and NOT up, not even slightly.

[@lorraineperry8232]

Hi Chris...from Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.... I really enjoy your videos... I love stories from the past... you do your commentaries really well...love all your locations...keep up the good work :)

[@LeAnimal65]

How cool!? I don't know how many times I've driven over Tiger Mountain & never even knew this was here. I gotta go check this out now, only when it warms up ;). Thanks for sharing, man!

[@galememeeof6688]

Don't wait too long. The forest might be a lot thicker and hard to get through. Good luck.

[@galememeeof6688]

I like seeing old places with a lot of history. You do a great job finding these places and showing us all the cool details. I like the respect you show to the history of these old places that used to be important to people who are long gone now probably. Thanks.

[@chrisblack8390]

Thanks all that metal looked so nice with the ferns and moss. Very cool! I liked that as much as the one out east.

[@gregorybathurst4326]

those leaf springs are some really good steel

[@jeffreymassey754]

The first thing I said to myself was those leaf springs are virgin steel, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't Damascus steel.

[@wendyjohnson8639]

You're Amazing!!! I would of love to walk that trail everything about the story is so interesting, the mountain scenery and streams, I could hang out there all day. Until the next adventure. Stay warm.

[@brokenwrist24]

Spring board notches. Those are from the loggers, to get above the swelling of the trunk.

[@mancima]

Billmeyer&Small was a narrow gauge railway car manufacturing in York PA.

[@knotbumper]

It was not a "train wreck." It was a tracklaying machine that got away from Camp B. They were laying track into a new setting. It was deemed not recoverable so it still lays there. I have been in there well over a hundred times, just above the creek, you can see the remains of Camp B. ther is a tail tree jack that weighs close to 500 pounds.

[@richdiscoveries]

Now that was really cool. I love all abandoned, but trains and industrial hold a special place for me. While it may be unfortunate history, it is still a piece of History. I like to look at the stuff in wonder who put these bolts in, who put these rivets in. People that are long gone and most likely forgotten by now. Thank you for taking us along, stay safe my friend

[@MobileInstinct]

Well said and I agree

[@OutbackOverlanderG2]

Have you gone to Wellington at the top of Stevens Pass (highway 2.)? I believe it was the worst railroad disaster in US history, 100+ killed. Avalanche swept down during the night as a passenger train was snowed in. Passenger cars tossed down into the Tye River below. The location now has abandoned snow sheds where the tragedy happened. There are remains of train below, as well as a caved in tunnel.

[@OutbackOverlanderG2]

(47.7443967, -121.1313644)

[@leannbaxter4070]

Have you been to the Ring of fire train wreck in Washington state? It’s along the Wynochee river, near the Olympic Nat. Forest. Cars are still in the river, there is a geocache in one of them. My friend has been there and climbed up inside one of the cars for the geocache. I have a picture somewhere of him inside it. It’s from a scene in a movie that went wrong I believe. There a lot of info on line.I love you show! Love the history and the before and after pictures when can. Keep exploring and I’ll keep watching!!

[@RoyJenkins777]

Good ole American made steel , gotta love it . Great video my friend. God Bless

[@bertokeson533]

I live in hobart. At the bottom of tiger. Didnt know about this wreck or the wellington wreck. The trails always seem Busy up there so I venture around other less populated areas. But im going up this spring thats super cool! Right in my back yard and didn't know

[@mekanicn7778]

One thing that make the identification of parts more difficult is that except for the locomotive and tender the Frame work of the rail cars Were wood timbers.

[@donaldswink6259]

That piece you don’t know what it is, is a journal box, it’s what the end of each wheel goes in. So there would be four per truck set and eight for each railroad car.

[@haydenbrinkley6927]

There was a train wreck in the cascade mountains outside of wellington washington which is now a ghost town but at the old cascade tunnel 2 trains were swept off the track by an avalanche in 1912, I recommend checking it out sometime.

[@MobileInstinct]

Yes, I'm definitely going up there!

[@robertphillips6296]

There are a lot of train parts still there down the slope and on the valley floor below. There have been several books written about it. Be very careful going there do to the rattlesnakes living there.

[@AHAproductions712]

Ive been it’s eerie as heck

[@Skyfire_The_Goth]

That square part you were talking about with all the wheel assembly components looks like a late 1800s to early 1900s coupler housing.

[@joelindsey8585]

That block looks like a spacer block between the leaf springs and the truck assembly. I think it is called a journal or note box.

[@flashy5150]

I think those marks on the tree were from either the train tipping over or maybe they fastened something to the tree or used that tree for leverage to lift up the locomotive or train car, like a large winch.

[@jillsmith633]

Very cool video. What is fascinating about this crash site is how nature is slowly reclaiming the earth. That moss looked like a soft green blanket covering the metal wreckage. Very haunting. Thank you for filming and sharing.

[@MrTomdemma]

Those holes in the trunk of the tree are not from steel hitting it those are notch marks from lumberjack planks that they stand on to cut the tree down most likely they were not there during the time of that crash

[@robertphillips6296]

It's called a journal box it was used to provide lubrication to the axles. You could also do one on the Trainwreck were aircraft fuselages that were being transported were not removed and are still there. I don't remember the name offhand.

[@deberryfh]

No steel. Those are spring board holes. Look at pictures of loggers cutting trees from long ago. You will see the boards sticking out.

[@RobynS9722]

I love stuff like this. Really, really fascinating. Reminds me of the Mount St Helens video you did.

[@DramaMustRemainOnTheStage]

@mobile instinct by God those rivets held. Amazing.

[@paytoncherwell]

Chris... I always enjoy watching your content... this is no exception! Thank you for your efforts in keeping us entertained! 😀😉

[@mrshts]

I live not too far from York. Lots of old railroad ties 'round these parts of PA.

[@sandysue202]

This was a great video Chris! Its sad that a man lost his life but thank you for mentioning his name. That's very respectful! You search out some amazing historical sites to show us and I love it!! There will always be some snarky people who just have to say something critical, unfortunately. They are just grumpy folks who hide behind the anonymity of social media to spew out their stupidity. Try to ignore them as much as possible because they just arent worth getting upset over. Pity them but ignore them. Thanks again for taking us places that we would very likely never see if you didnt go.

[@LadyCatFelineTheSeventh]

Tiger Mountain is in Issaquah. Never knew that was there. There are also a lot of mines around so be careful (not all of them were marked.)

[@jimrossi7708]

Enjoyed ! Keep up the good work Chris, if i May say there is an abandoned train up in the north woods of Maine near Eagle Lake which is really cool along with the ride up there !!

[@JonathanColemanTrains]

Billmeyer and small company in York pa was a thing and I am try to find out where the place was. There is a website telling you what coaches there was along time ago. There is one passenger car still living today and that is at East Broad Top railroad and it is coming back to life. Next year EBT is going to have two or maybe have all of the locomotives up and running. I hope that you can get up to east broad top next year, The building is still standing to this day of where they did there business at.

[@ericmcquiston9473]

Great job Chris, definitely a journey to adventure!

[@noneofurbiz226]

the notches on the stump are from planks they stood on to make cuts in the tree

[@stevelaminack1516]

Spring boards they are called....as many have also said before me (just so I don't get blasted for saying what others have said).

[@noneofurbiz226]

@@stevelaminack1516 gotchya, boss ^^ np

[@therolltacker]

Nice video, great narrative. Thanks for visiting Washington and showing many of us locals things we've never seen before.

[@bradleymorris8875]

Springboard holes. Also it’s the tail hook for the steam donkey.

[@TEA-fj3ut]

I thought the notches in the trees made it so the steel cords wrap around to winch steam donkey as it was pulled up by sled.

[@stevelaminack1516]

@@TEA-fj3ut Don't think so, if that was the case you would see the imprint of the cable as well, not just a sharp defined notch.

[@troyvolz4782]

Appreciate your curiosity and the journey, good stuff

[@katrinalaster3913]

I love your videos!! Very cool stuff !! Please dont stop i just found this channel and i have watched 9 videos back to back!! Stay safe and great work!!

[@charleswaldon8362]

I am surprised that nobody ever scraps these wrecks that sit forever. You would think before the tracks were garbage. Someone's job would be to get as close as possible to recover everything salvageable and or scrap able

[@bradleymorris8875]

I remember try to scrap some of stuff like that. I think it’s #2 and not really valuable.

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

That’s the railroad for you.

[@jamessmith7691]

Thanks for sharing this story.

[@cincoy3679]

The man that tried to stop the train dies The hero but the other gave up. Ever think if they stayed on to help. Rip.

[@donellmuniz590]

The one that "gave up" was smart. He saved his own skin. He knew a lost cause when he saw one. Karis shoulda jumped too.

[@donellmuniz590]

@deplorable patriot damn right.

[@sbennettyt]

On New River in WV you can find parts of the steam engine that exploded near Hinton in June 1953. Engine 1642 exploded at CW Cabin killing all three crew members.

[@madderscience]

The wreck was caused by brake failure on the locomotive. Like today sometimes logging equipment wasn't the best maintained. The crew realized the runaway almost as soon as they left camp and as you mentioned most just hopped off while the train was still moving slowly. The wreck site was a small curved trestle upon which the loco derailed. It was salvaged along with a couple cars but yes the dale-chihuly-in-rusted metal twisted up track layer remains along with several trucks/axles. My best find at the site, which I left in place but probably should have taken and given to a local museum - several worn out climax locomotive brake shoes. They were up at the camp site, said 'climax' on them and clearly were worn to the point of ineffectiveness. there was a big storm in the 2000's that messed up the old camp site area pretty bad. Various other artifacts and interesting spots like bridgeheads and such along that section of RR grade.

[@wmd40]

That tree decently would've been there then. Pine trees grow extremely slowly. That tree is probably over 100 years old and looks like it was cut a very long time ago. Not sure if those marks are from the train but it definitely was there

[@tyn.8934]

Been passed Tiger Mountain several times growing up, but never knew there was a train wreck!! Great video as usual, man! That piece from York, PA... That looks to be part of the wheel on the train. It looks like it would be fixed in front of the wheel, and the wheel would be behind that. Kind of like a rotor and brake caliper on a car. That would be my guess.

[@debbiebynum8086]

Another great and informative video. I love starting my day this way. Thanks again, Chris.

[@anoymousjoe5957]

The iron box is the axle box, the bronze bearings went inside those boxes and they were filled with lubricating oil.

[@ScoundrelSFB]

Hey man, I appreciate you coming to my home state of Washington, and showing its beauty and interesting finds. I promise if i think of something you might enjoy and do i'll tell you. In the meantime keep making wonderful videos.

[@wlm2aboutchange630]

😲😲😲... this is amazing!!!! Thank you for sharing this!!!🥰🥰🥰

[@valsblackcatsrule8740]

Cool treck. You always find really interesting things. Stay safe and healthy out there! Thank you for sharing a part of your day with us!

[@donnaj.1634]

I always learn so much from your videos! Awesome video!

[@Chet_Brinkley]

Incredible, thank you for the tour !

[@onrr1726]

Logging railroads were notorious for both abandoning and dumping their junk.

[@song4you80]

I wish I was as lucky as you are to travel all around the country getting to enjoy your life. I am stuck in a dead-end life with no happiness.

[@kingjames7273]

Word of caution..TIMBER RATTLERS COPPERHEADS be carefully should not be alone.carry a phone ,radio ,and snake kit.