4-8-2 1520 at Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 14, 1947 (Arthur B. Johnson).

The 1520 was involved in two head-on, fatal collisions during her career.

On December 14, 1927 the 1520 was in charge of 105, when she collided with train 136, which was pulled by engine 4008 at Portia, Arkansas. This portion of the Memphis Subdivision was a dark railroad, and the crew of 105 misread a Form E Time (wait) order. The ICC report states that both locomotives were “practically destroyed” and that the boilers were “torn from the frames”.

On February 16, 1939 the 1520 was in charge of 107, when she collided with train 238, engine 4208, at Quincy, Mississippi. The crew of 238 was held liable for failing to observe a Form E order, and a failure to observe a restrictive signal. The crew of 107 also held culpable for probably failing to observe a restrictive signal. The first car of 107 telescoped into 1520’s tender, which required an extensive rebuild.

Special thanks to Karl Brand.