Amherst, OH Train Wreck, Mar 1916 - Trains Meet in Fog

30 DIE, 40 HURT IN TRIPLE WRECK

MANGLED BODIES HURLED HIGH IN AIR IN CRASH ON NEW YORK CENTRAL.

TRAINS MEET IN FOG

TWENTY COACHES AND BAGGAGE CARS OVERTURNED LIKE TOY TRAINS.

Cleveland, March 30. --- With a toll of at least 30 persons dead and 40 or more injured, federal and state officials and officials of the railroad company have begun an investigation into the cause which led to one of the most disastrous wrecks in the history of the New York Central.

When the total of dead and injured is finally ascertained, the wreck will surpass, in its cost of life and limb, even the wreck of the Twentieth Century Limited at Mentor in 1904.

Dense fog obscured the signal set by the first section of the eastbound Pittsburg, Baltimore, Buffalo Limited, causing another section of that train to crash into it. It plowed through the steel coaches. One minute later the Twentieth Century Limited, the fastest train in the world, westbound from New York, running 60 miles an hour, smashed into the debris thrown into its way by the wreck of No. 86. The crash and the cries of the injured and dying could be heard two miles. Twenty coaches and baggage cars were overturned like children's play trains. Two of the three great engines turned over. The boiler of the engine of Section 2 of No. 86 exploded. The water quenched a fire that started in the telescoped day coach of the first section of No. 86. All coaches of the three trains were of steel. Two coaches were crumpled into junk. Only three of the eight cars of the Twentieth Century Limited remained on the track.

The crumpled day coach of the first section of No. 86 was the"death car." The engine of the second section of No. 86 plowed through a buffet car, day coach and part of a sleep or on the tail of the first section.

Range Ledger Colorado 1916-04-01