Steam Road Wrecks

Columbus, Ohio Area

Introduction

Pre-1900

July 27, 1871, Alum Creek, a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad freight train was derailed by an open switch. The engineer was injured.  - Article

October 11, 1871, Union Station, a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad passenger train collided with a freight train. The passenger train conductor was killed.  - Article

Summer, 1878, Sunbury, a Cleveland Mt. Vernon & Columbus Railroad (PRR) bridge callopased under the weight of a freight train.  unjuries unknown.  - Article - includes photos

August 16, 1889, near Columbus Union Station, a Cincinnati, St Louis and Pittsburg Railroad (PRR) freight train rear ended a standing freight train.  One person killed and two injured.  - Newspaper

July 14, 1894, Olentangy tower a Baltimore & Ohio freight train's pilot struck a crossing rail and derailed.  One employee was killed and one injured. - Newspaper - includes drawing

September 5, 1894, on the Big Four's Olentangy River Bridge, a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad passenger train was hit by a run-a-way cut of coal cars.  One person killed and two injured. - Newspaper - includes drawing

1900-1920

October 1, 1902, West Side, a CRP&L Co. streetcar struck a PRR freight train crossing West Broad Street.  Eight persons were injured. - Newspaper 

June 18, 1907, north of Columbus Union Station, a Big Four southbound passenger train was derailed by an open switch.  One person killed and four injured. - Newspaper  - includes photo

August 18, 1911, near Grandview Avenue, a Big Four northbound passenger train derailed.   Forty-five passengers injured. - Newspaper– ICC Report

March 2, 1914, Worthington, a Pennsylvania Railroad southbound passenger train ran into the rear of a freight train.  Four trainmen were injured, one fatally.  – Newspaper

August 12, 1915, Orient, a Baltimore & Ohio westbound passenger train was rear ended by a freight train.  Six passengers were killed and 32 injured. – Newspaper- ICC Report - includes photos

December 24, 1919, Worthington tower, a Big Four northbound freight ran through a derail and overturned.  One crew man were killed and two injured. - Newspaper

1921-1940

March 30, 1923, Oakland Park Avenue, a Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, & St. Louis Railway (Big Four) southbound passenger train struck an automobile and was derailed.  Eight died and 43 were injured. – Newspaper - ICC Report

December 7, 1923, near Miami Crossing,  a Pennsylvania Railroad eastbound freight train was derailed.  One employee was killed and three injured. – Newspaper - ICC Report

June 24, 1924, Linworth, a Hocking Valley Railroad freight train was rear ended by a second freight train.  One employee was killed and one was injured. – Newspaper - ICC Report

October 15, 1929, Columbus Union Station, a Baltimore & Ohio westbound passenger train locomotive derailed and overurned while leaving the station.  There were no injureries.  - Newspaper

November 16, 1933, Worthington tower, a Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway (Big four) passenger train derailed because of a broken rail.  Thirteen persons  injured. - Newspaper - ICC Report - includes photos

December 27, 1934, Linden (north of Columbus), a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train derailed.  Three persons were killed and twelve injured. - Newspaper - ICC Report - includes photo, drawing

1941-1960

January 7, 1941, Miami Crossing, a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train derailed.  One person killed and one injured. – Newspaper - ICC Report

September 15, 1941, Village of San Margherita, a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train derailed due to a broken drawbar.  Eleven crude oil tank cars burned.  There were no injuries. - Newspaper

November 14, 1943, James Rd., a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train collided with an automobile.  Four people were killed and three injured. – Newspaper- ICC Report

March 12, 1945, HV Cabin, a Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad northbound freight train derailed.  Three employees were killed.  – ICC Report

July 2, 1945, Fourth St., a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train rear ended another freight train.  One employee was killed and one injured. – Newspaper - ICC Report

June 7, 1948, Columbus Union Station, a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train derailed due to an improperly aligned double slip switch.  Six people were injured. – Newspaper - ICC Report - includes drawing

April 29, 1949, Newark, a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad passenger train derailed.  Seven people were injured. – ICC Report

January 2, 1952, Hilliard, a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train derailed and caught fire.  Three local firefighters were injured. – Newspaper/Article - includes photos

April 15, 1955, Hilliard, a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train derailed.  There were no injuries. – Newspaper/Article

November 30, 1958, Summit Station, a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train derailed.  There were no injuries. – Newspaper

August 14, 1959, US Tower, two Pennsylvania Railroad freight trains collided.  There were no injuries. - Article - Newspaper - includes photos

Post-1960

December 18, 1965, North of Worthington, a New York Central Railroad passenger train struck an earthmover at a rail-highway grade crossing. The driver of the earthmover was killed and 43 persons on the train were injured.  - Article - Newspaper - ICC Report - includes photos

August 4, 1967, West Jefferson, a Pennsylvania Railroad westbound passenger train derailed.  Twenty persons were injured. – Newspaper - ICC Report - includes photos

 

Updated January 1, 2011