On August 30, 1909, Elmer L. Johns of Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on a dare while under the influence of alcohol, hijacked a steam locomotive from the Pennsylvania Railroad yards at Lykens. His intent appeared to be to run the engine onto the main line, but in moving through the yard, it derailed when it passed over an open switch. Railroad officials stated that a disastrous collision could have occurred with the Lykens Valley Accommodation, a passenger train proceeding from Millersburg to Lykens, which was on the main track and nearing the station.
At the time, railroad officials tried to restrain and arrest Johns, but he escaped and went west. Nearly a year went by, and when Johns returned, he was identified by officials in Northumberland. He was taken to Harrisburg where he pleaded guilty to the charges. The judge sentenced him to a fine, costs, and ten months in jail.
Johns had a criminal record, which was brought out in the courtroom, but only general information was given about his past. The railroad officials accused him of being part of a gang that was causing trouble at Lykens, but nothing more was pursued by the court at that time.
The story is told here through news articles from the local and regional newspapers, a few of which erroneously reported his surname as “Johnson.” Unfortunately, thus far, no articles have been located from around the date that the locomotive was stolen, August 30, 1909.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, August 18, 1901:
ELMER L. JOHNSON [sic] ARRESTED FOR STEALING A LOCOMOTIVE
ACCUSED OF RUNNING IT FULL SPEED THROUGH LYKENS YARD UNTIL IT LEAVES TRACK
On the charge of willfully and maliciously stealing a Northern Central Railroad engine out of the company’s yards at Lykens and then running it off the tracks, endangering the lives of many people, Elmer L. Johnson [sic], of Lykens, was given a hearing last evening before Alderman George A. Hoveter. In default of $1,500 bail he was committed to jail.
On August 30, 1909, it is charged, Johnson [sic], while intoxicated, went into the Northern Central Railroad yards and got into an engine standing there with steam up. Throwing open the throttle, he started down through the yard at full speed. The lives of a number of persons were endangered. Finally the engine left the rails. Damage amounting to $100 was done to the locomotive. When the crew tried to capture Johnson [sic] he put up a fight and escaped. He went West and remained there for some time before he decided it was safe to return. He was seen in the Northumberland yards yesterday by Officer George Shuler and placed under arrest. He was brought to Harrisburg by Captain of Police J. L. Lehman, of the Northern Central Railroad.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, August 18, 1910:
JOHNS CAUGHT
MAN WHO TOOK “JOY RIDE” ON PENNSY ENGINE HELD IN $1,500 BAIL
Elmer Johns was held for court this morning by Alderman George A. Hoverton under $1,500 bail.
Johns was brought to this city by Captain J. F. Lehman, of the Williamsport police force, who entered the complaint in the name of the Northern Central Railroad Company.
For nearly a year Johns has eluded the police It was on August 30, 1909, that Johns, who is about 25 years old, decided to take a “joy ride” on a Northern Central engine then standing unguarded on the yard tracks.
He started the engine after a fight with the approaching trainman and after a short ride ran off the tracks, destroying several hundred dollars worth of property.
The man was not arrested until this week when he returned from the west where he was in hiding, to Northumberland. The arrest was made by officer George Shuler.
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From the Lebanon Courier & Semi-Weekly Report, August 26, 1910:
STOLE A LOCOMOTIVE
LYKENS MAN JAILED TO AWAIT TRIAL ON UNIQUE CHARGE
Elmer L. Johnson [sic] of Lykens, charged with maliciously stealing a Northern Central Railroad locomotive from the Lykens yard some time ago was arraigned before Alderman George A. Hoverter, of Harrisburg for a hearing. he was remanded to jail to await court. His bail was fixed at $1,500.
Johnson [sic] boarded the engine, ran it through the yards and finally from the tracks. The damage amounted to $100. He was captured by the train crew, but managed to get away. He went West and only a short time ago. He was seen in the Northumberland yards by Detective George Shuler, of Harrisburg, and arrested.
The lives of hundreds of people were endangered by Johnson’s escapade.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 12 Sep 1910:
JOHNS JAILED FOR STEALING ENGINE
MUST SERVE TEN MONTHS AN PAY A FINE OF $100 AND COSTS
DRINK IS BLAMED
COLLISION WITH A CROWDED PASSENGER TRAIN IS NARROWLY AVERTED
Elmer L. Johns, aged 27 years, was sentenced by Judge McCarrell in court this morning to pay a fine of $100, all costs and to be imprisoned in the Dauphin County Jail for ten months for starting a Lykens Valley Railroad engine on August 30, 1909, running it off the tracks and narrowly missing a collision with the Lykens Valley Accommodation, which was en route from Millersburg to Lykens.
Johns said he had been drinking and made a wager with several friends that he could run an engine. The amount of the wager was the price of drinks for the crowd. Johns got on the engine, which had been sidetracked by the hostler, and started to run it out on the main track, the switch being open.
Disaster Narrowly Averted
But for the fact that the engine leaped from the rails it would have dashed down a grade, meeting the Accommodation train loaded with passengers a short distance from Lykens.
A Pennsylvania railroad officer, J. L. Lehman, stated it was only the derailing of the engine that prevented an awful disaster. The switch was turned and and Johns knew it, he said, and Johns had no intention of stopping the engine had not the two drivers left the track.
Samuel Wherry, the hostler, said the engine had been left on the side track but that the switch was open. He said he had to push Johns away from the throttle. One wheel of the engine had started to leave the track at what is know as the needle of the switch and the hostler had gone to give notice. On his return he found Johns at the throttle and the engine in motion.
Member of a Bad Gang
It was also stated that Johns was a member of the gang that gave the railroad company considerable trouble at Lykens.
Johns said he had no intention of running the engine, but simply wanted to show he knew how to start and stop it. He asked the court for mercy, stating that he was needed at home to help his parents. It was shown subsequently that Johns had been in trouble before and served three years at the Huntingdon Reformatory.
The court was of the opinion that the offense was too serious to overlook and imposed sentence, with a reprimand, advising Johns to stay away from drink in the future.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, September 12, 1910:
RAN ENGINE ON WAGER; IS FINED
JOHNS’ ACT MADE RAILROAD OFFICIALS SHUDDER AT TIME
HORROR NARROWLY AVERTED
BIG LOCOMOTIVE DRIVEN BY FOOLHARDY MAN DERAILED JUST IN TIME TO PREVENT DISASTROUS WRECK — COURT SENTENCES JOHNS TO TEN MONTHS IN PRISON AND IMPOSES A $100 FINE
On a wager with some companions that he could easily run an engine, Elmer L. Johns, of Lykens, August 30, 1909, climbed upon a locomotive near the Lykens roundhouse, opened the throttle and was starting for the main track when an open switch derailed it.
Later Lykens Accommodation carrying scores of people passed on the main line on the way from Millersburg to Lykens. Had the engine got upon the main track, railroad officials said they did not like to think of what might have happened to the loaded accommodation train.
Johns pleaded guilty to damaging railroad property this morning before Additional law Judge McCarrell and was sentenced to pay $100 fine and to serve ten months in jail.
Johns left his section of the country immediately after the trouble and went to Iowa. He returned only a short time ago and was arrested by the railroad police.
He was one of at least a score of prisoners who pleaded guilty today and threw themselves upon the mercy of the court.
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From the Pottsville Republican, September 13, 1910:
TEN MONTHS FOR STEALING ENGINE
Elmer L. Johns, aged 27 years, was sentenced yesterday in Harrisburg to pay a fine of $1000, all the costs of the suit and to serve 10 months in the Dauphin Jail for the theft of a steam engine. The theft occurred August 30th [1909] at Lykens when Johns, under the influence of a drink, boarded an engine and opening the throttle, started it out. During its wild run narrowly missed colliding with a passenger train. The engine finally mounted the tracks and was derailed, thus averting a disastrous accident. Johns claimed that he simply wanted to show his friend that he could run an engine.
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From the Pittston Gazette, September 13, 1910:
PLEADED GUILTY TO DERAILING ENGINE
Harrisburg, September 13 [1910] — Elmer L. Johns, of Lykens, pleaded guilty in court to a deed that made the audience gasp with amazement. It seems that on a wager with some companions that he could easily run an engine, Johns climbed upon a locomotive near the Lykens round house, opened the throttle and was starting for the main track when an open switch derailed it.
Later, Lykens Accommodation, carrying scores of people, passed on the main line on the way from Millersburg to Lykens. Had the engine got upon the main track, railroad officials said they did not like to think of what might have happened to the loaded accommodation train.
Johns was sentenced to pay $100 fine and to serve ten months in jail.
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From the Danville News, September 15, 1910:
WOULDN’T TAKE A DARE — Elmer Johns, of Lykens, pleaded guilty to climbing on an engine, opening the throttle, and starting the engine down the track into a switch where it was derailed. A passing accommodation train was nearly struck. Johns said he did the trick on a dare. He will stay in jail ten months and think it over.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, “Lykens News.” September 15, 1910:
Samuel Wehry and Harry Smith went to Harrisburg Monday to appear as witnesses in the case against Elmer Johns, who attempted to run an engine out of the local Pennsylvania yards, August 30, 1909.
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From the Lykens Standard, “Court Notes,” September 16, 1910:
Elmer L. Johns of Wiconisco, who on August 30, 1909, climbed upon a locomotive near the roundhouse at this place and run it off the track at an open switch, was on Monday sentenced to pay $100 fine and to serve ten months in the county jail.
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From the Mount Carmel Daily News, September 20, 1910:
IS THINKING IT OVER
Elmer Johns, of Lykens, pleaded guilty to climbing on an engine, opening the throttle and starting the engine into a switch at the main track, where it was derailed. A passing accommodation train was nearly struck. Johns said he did the trick on a dare. He will stay in jail ten months and think it over.
Note: A similar article was found in the Wilkes-Barre Semi-Weekly Record, September 20, 1910.
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The undated photograph said to have been taken at the Lykens Roundhouse was published in the Lykens Standard on September 11, 1969 and was posted on this blog on January 30, 2022. The man in the photo who is identified as Harry E. Smith, engineer, may been the same person who testified at the sentencing of Elmer L. Johns.