Vestal Train Wreck
Posted by: 
ripraff
N 42° 05.340 W 076° 02.806
18T E 413429 N 4660187
Collision of two trains at the Vestal Station, one carrying 5 tons of dynamite.
Waymark Code: WMMKHX
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 10/03/2014
Views: 4
Saturday night, at 9:45 June 10, 1901, there was a rear end collision between two trains at the Vestal Station. Five men were killed. The first train, no. 61, had stopped to take on water at the tank near the station. A two-engine "wildcat" train left Binghamton one half hour after the first train. The wildcat train saw the other and attempted to signal, but it crashed, setting off five tons of dynamite in the boxcar by the caboose. The explosion was heard 30 miles away. Coal spilled out of cars and caught fire. Houses, barns, churches and the train depot were damaged. Head engineer of the wildcat train was found negligent for leaving his post for a drink of tea. Also a flagman was found negligent for not taking necessary precautions.
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