"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 8, 2000 - 19 I Lan 1% tn A mA: Game Tg 47 Soro K by Paul Arculus | Sketches of Scugog is a historical column written by local resident and historian Paul Arculus and published in the Port Perry Star each month. HE STORY of the mule killer switchman. Much has been written in this series of articles about the problem-plagued Port Whitby and Port Perry Railway. The railway became operational in 1871 and was extended to Lindsay in 1876. The line never made a profit. This was largely as a result of a combination of inexperience, mismanagement and a little bit of corruption thrown in for good measure. The section of the line between Port Perry and High Point ( a few miles south west of Manchester) was the most problematic in terms of its construction. The line was built on unstable ground and derail- ments occurred in this section on an annual basis as the rails sank into the ground. The PWPPLR was absorbed by the Midland Railway in 1881. The Midland was absorbed by the Grand Trunk in 1884. Finally the GTR was in turn: taken over by the C.N. in 1923. The line was aban- doned in 1939 and the tracks torn up for the war effort in 1941. Its most notable and most publicized accident during the G.T.R. years involved none of the earlier problems. Itinvolved a most basic problem - Inspectors and military personnel view the carnage. The mules were on their way to Europe to be used to carry military supplies and to pull guns. The case of the mule killing switchman human error. The north south line ( the old PWPPLR), joined the east - west line linking Toronto with Montreal at the Whitby Junction station just east of Brock Street. In the early hours of the morning of November 2, 1916, a train was heading east and approaching the junction. The train had a most unusual cargo. It had nine cars, each carrying 20 mules - a total of 180 mules! The poor unfortunate animals were bound for Montreal to be shipped to Europe. There they were to be used as beasts of burden in the conflict of World War I. It was the duty of the switch- man on duty at the junction, to make sure that the line was clear and that the appropriate junction lines were switched correctly. At 4:30 in the morning, the east bound train approached the junction. The switchman pulled what he thought was the derailing switch for the Port Perry line, thus clearing the main line for the approaching train. By mistake, he pulled the derail- ing switch for the main line. A screech, followed by a series of from either line.. a The Whitby Junction station looking west. The train on the left is heading for Toronto. The train on the right is gathering steam in preparation for its journey to Port Perry. The accident occurred just east of here, where the two lines cross, allowing traffic to flow be destroyed. In the late afternoon, as the wreckage was cleared, it was found that only thirty mules were considered to be fit. The switchman was fired. If he had checked the record he would have found that his error was not the first at this location. The same error had happened three times before but never with such dramatic consequences. deafening crashes broke the morning solitude as railroad cars were literally thrown into the air, landing on the ground with a thunderous din. The sound of squealing mules added to the noise. SN Among the smashed rail cars, mules, or parts of them, were strewn all over the landscape. As the dawn broke, a crowd gathered to witness the carnage. Many mules were killed. Some had managed to escape and were enjoying their new found freedom in the adjoining (i oa > 3X ¢ fields. But the majority were horribly mutilated and had to A mule lies dead, thrown from the rail car. The results of the impact are apparent as we notice the rail cars ripped from their wheels. If You Enjoyed The Port Perry Star's Special Issue of oa PORT PERRY A Cy NTLRY Oy Procre«. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS "OUT OF THE ASHES" More than 300 pages of stories, photos and history. Pick up your personal copy at one of the following Port Perry and area outlets today, while supply lasts. It's the book everyone is talking about! Now On Sale at: ~ * Book's Galore & More. . Settlement House Shops. ..» The Port Perry Star * Seagrave General Store Less than 200 copies remaining. vg)