Erie Railroad Biography - M.H. King


Note: news on this page refers to both Michael and Martin King, as references frequently refer only to "M.H. King" without differentiating the first name.

From the September 19, 1890 issue of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune:
Michael King, fireman on the Susquehanna Division, firing on trains 13 and 14, fired two trips over the Susquehanna Division without rest: hadn't only two hours rest when he was called for train 14, firing from Hornellsville to Susquehanna; coming right back with train 13, went over the Rochester Division firing around to Bath; from Bath to Buffalo; from Buffalo to Dayton; from Dayton to Jamestown, firing train 12 from Jamestown to Salamanca; firing No. 4 from Salamanca to Hornellsville, being on the road four days and four nights without rest.






From the June, 1912 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
WATKINS "SALT RUN" CREW.
Engine 897, a member of the "Order of the Red Spot," was recently placed on the Watkins Salt Run, after being thoroughly overhauled at Susquehanna Shops.

The crew is proud of 897, for she is in fine condition and does the work in tip top style. Agent Donley of this crew said:
"The members of this crew are a great help in advancing the business at Watkins, by their excellent switching service. They have served all the large shippers for 15 months past, without a single complaint about the service rendered.




From the November, 1913 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
The following engineers, employed on the Susquehanna Division, have received recognition for mileage made without engine failures, as follows:
J.J. Lyons, 21709; Michael King, 22152; S.F. Miller, 24679; D.E. McCarthy. 24810; J.M. O'Loughlin, 24988; C.H. Pettis, 23553; J.R. Saunders, 25820; T.J. Smith, 20223; J.J. Currier, 20056; J.W. Coleman, 21235, in switching service; J.W. McCarthy, 35847; Patrick Rohan, 29332, in ordinary freight service; Fred Miller, 24652; J.F. Hogan, 32440, in freight and switching service; C.F. Keeler, 26879, in fast freight service; A. Jordan, 58806, in passenger service.




From the February, 1915 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Susquehanna Division engineer Michael King was commended for running his engine in switching service for 24,858 miles between October 14, 1913 and December 15, 1914 without any engine failures.




From the Sept. 6 and 7, 1933 issues of the Mansfield, OH News-Journal, as well as Interstate Commerce Commission accident report 1853
Engineer M.H. King was involved in a collision at Binghamton, NY on Sept. 6, 1933 that resulted in the deaths of 14 passengers. King's eight car milk train ran into the rear of the Atlantic Express which had stopped for a signal.

Per the ICC report, engineman King was employed as a fireman in 1891, and promoted to engineman in 1902; he qualified for passenger service in 1914. The report states that he was tested for appointment to the milk train by the Road Foreman of Engines: "In January, 1933, after a leave of absence in no way connected with ill health, Engineman King was given a physical examination by one of the company physicians, the chief surgeon subsequently notifying Road Foreman McCarthy that Engineman King was physically qualified to perform his duties as an engineman. Mr. McCarthy further stated that he had known Engineman King for 42 years and knew him to be a man who never used tobacco or intoxicating liquors. After Engineman King made application to be given the run referred to as the milk train, Mr. McCarthy examined him again, prior to his taking over the milk train about August 1, 1933, this examination having particular reference to his ability to operate high-speed trains and his knowledge of Westinghouse and Now York air-brake equipment; this was because Engineman King had recently been in freight service. In addition, he also required Engineman King to make a trip on the milk train in order to familiarize himself with the work and then made a trip himself with Engineman King on the train in question, closely observing his operation of the air brakes and his observance of speed restrictions; he found him capable of performing his duties in a satisfactory manner. Subsequently he had opportunity to observe Engineman King's handling of the milk train on August 14 and of another train on August 15, 1933."

The ICC investigation placed blame for the accident on engineer King, but also noted that there were many experienced employees working in the area of the wreck who failed in one way or another to perform their duties to the fullest possible extent. News reports at the time of the accident quoted Erie officials who emphatically put the blame on King and no one else.




From the December, 1936 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Susquehanna Division Engineer M. King of Binghamton was recently placed on the special allowance payroll and retired at age 67 after 49 years, two months of service.




From the June, 1941 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Martin King, retired Erie engineer of West 3rd Street, Elmira, NY, and 208 Crosby Street, El Paso, TX, is going to spend the summer with his brother, the Rev. Thomas F. King of St. Joseph's Church, 2700 Prismo Drive, Los Angeles.




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