Runaway Trolley

Public transportation through the centuries has always had its share of accidents, the difference being only in the type of conveyance involved in the mishap.

When Ohio was interlaced with electric interurban lines in the early 1900's, Mansfield was serviced by a major line, the Cleveland and southwestern. These cars traveled at great speeds for that day and were used for inter-city passenger and freight service. Like our autos and public transportation of today through mechanical or human failure, these cars were involved in numerous accidents. One of these accidents is pictured above.

The photo shows the results of what happened on the morning of July 24, 1908 when the motorman and conductor parked their large Southwestern car in front of the station on North main at Central park (Richland Trust site) at 5:30 A.M. and went into the station to pick up their orders. Faulty brakes let go and the empty runaway car started on a careening journey down North main St. hill.

 

 Early morning passengers waiting for the Bucyrus trip at the car stop on the corner of Main and Fifth were surprised to see the pilot less car come racing down the hill, Hit the B&O side tracks, leapt two feet into the air, and miraculously land back on the tracks and continue toward the Sixth St. intersection.

At Sixth the switch was set for the car to make a sharp corner and proceed up West Sixth. The speeding car hit the switch and took off through the air breaking off a utility pole, missing the Coblentz Drug store on the northeast corner, and plunged into the Phillip J. Laver home.