| |
N0KFQ > TODAY 29.12.13 16:10l 42 Lines 1651 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 9480_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Dec 29
Path: IZ3LSV<ED1ZAC<VK2DOT<GB7PZT<GB7MAX<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 131229/1455Z 9480@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.57
Dec 29, 1876:
Bridge collapses in Ohio
A bridge in Ashtabula, Ohio, collapses on this day in 1876,
causing a train to fall into a gorge, killing 80 passengers.
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway brought passengers
into Chicago from points east. On December 29, a snow storm
forced one of the trains (two locomotives and 11 coach cars) from
New York to Chicago to creep along at less than 10 miles per
hour. Visibility was greatly reduced, but at 7:30 p.m., the crew
was able to see their approach to the bridge over Ashtabula
Creek.
The engineers were unable to see, however, that the 152-foot iron
trestle bridge wouldn't be able to handle the weight of the train
as it proceeded slowly across. Just after the first locomotive
made it to the other side, the bridge collapsed under the weight
of the train. The other locomotives and coach cars uncoupled and
plunged down the deep ravine into the creek below, causing
several explosions and a large fire.
Of the 80 people who were killed, 19 bodies were burned beyond
recognition. Another 68 passengers were severely injured, but 52
others managed to walk away with minor or no injuries. An inquiry
into the accident did not produce any definitive answers, in part
because the train's chief engineer, Charles Collins, killed
himself two days after it began. Five years later, the designer
of the bridge, Amasa Stone, also committed suicide.
This disaster was the deadliest rail accident in the United
States to that time. An 1867 accident on the same line killed 43
people in New York.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Using Outpost Ver 2.8.0 c42
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
