The Doodlebug Disaster 81 years later

[@jessicaajarrett]

My grandfather was 13 years old at the time of the disaster. He lived a few blocks away from the crash site and was one of the first people on the scene. He used to tell us that the first thing he saw of the crash was the brakeman lying on the ground bleeding. I understood that the brakeman had his arm ripped off but I might be misremembering the story. My grandfather has been gone for 8 years now so I can't ask him, unfortunately.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Very interesting he could tell you bout the incident from his point of view before he passed. Sights like that especially at that age are not only beyond scary, they stick with you until you kick the bucket. Hope your grandfather rests easy in peace

[@CanadianMoron]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren sup bro

[@sawyerjohnston2544]

That is horrible I feel bad for your grandpa he must've been traumatize by this accident

[@bird20040]

@@sawyerjohnston2544 grandma ?

[@sawyerjohnston2544]

@@bird20040 had a little bit of a spelling mistake

[@BritanniaPacific]

Never knew the Pennsylvania Railroad had doodlebugs, let alone this disaster. Too bad few doodlebugs from this era survive today. They’re a big, under appreciated piece of railroad history.

[@nivekyentrouc1200]

Illinois Rail Road Museum, Union, Il. Fantastic museum, huge.

[@hildahilpert5018]

@@nivekyentrouc1200 I seem to recall on some paranormal show on the Travel Channel where some ghost group went to this museum. They have a passenger rail car which is haunted. I think it is from this disaster. Somewhere on KZbin should be a film, The Crash at Crush. It was were two trains werec rashed into each other. Happend in the 1900s at Crush, Texas. Think the town is or was in the Dallas -Fort Worth area.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

They indeed are. They paved the way for modern self propelled cars especially the famous Budd RDCs (technically they are doodlebugs but have multiple unit control so they're known as DMUs or Diesel Multiple Units) one of my personal favorite rail cars. The footage of 4662 was taken by me even the cab shot and that car gave quite the ride.

[@algrayson8965]

Similar self-propelled cars are such as the Budd Rail Diesel Cars, Micheline rubber tired self-propelled cars in France, and six Budd Michelines in the USA. McKeen built 152 1905-17, one of the first gasoline motor cars. Most were built with “windsplitter” knife-edge front ends. Ettore Bugatti in 1933-38 built a hundred railcars to his design. They were powered by basically the Royale IL8 engine.

[@nathanmahoney6346]

There's actually one preserved and operating in Wilmington, Delaware, on the Wilmington and Western.

[@Redshirt214]

Native here: "Cuyahoga" is pronounced kie-ya-hog-ah not kie-yu-ga. Another interesting fact: Cuyahoga Falls is the hometown of Bill Waterson, who wrote Calvin and Hobbes.

[@kabato48]

I was about to say the same about the pronunciation. I live nearby as well.

[@winkelmannchannel971]

Same

[@ThatBritWorm]

Thanks google

[@skiiipawbs]

Cool

[@ianisaacs2340]

He said, “marijuana joints” in another video. PSA: you’re gonna hear some custom narrations from thunderbolt…

[@Sf_sholder]

Doodlebugs are what could have pre-made the brill bullets in experience, that siding could have been preventing the entire crash, if only he noticed…

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Not quite. The Bullets used Electric third rails for power while the bugs were gas powered and later diesel. The Bullets were made round the same time as some of the doodlebugs as well but man they outlived the bugs as they weren't retired until SEPTA replaced them in the mid 1990s with ABB N5s. Most of em thankfully survived with 1 in operational condition being converted to act like a trolley (somehow running off a trolley pole with overhead wires, I have no idea how they got away with that)

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

It's really upsetting that almost everyone in the doodlebug died. I've heard of air disasters where everyone to almost everyone in those accidents perished, but very rarely, a train accident where almost everyone perished.

[@BritanniaPacific]

The kaprun disaster of 2000 is a good example of one

[@LNERK361983]

Another good example is the Tay Bridge Disaster Of 1879 where there were no survivors at all after the bridge collapsed in a force 11 gale.

[@ajaxengineco]

@@LNERK361983 An interesting note on the Tay Bridge Disaster: The bridge collapsed with the train on it, as a result of the increased surface area given by the train, on which the wind could act. The train was forced against the rails by the wind, creating a wild display of sparks. This phenomenon was also seen on the previous goods train.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

the crew bailed and survived, they never alerted the passengers so none had the chance to even attempt to jump…

[@emmaryan8147]

@@bostonrailfan2427 why didn’t they tell the passengers

[@StocktonSubber]

There was something like this on the California Western, only 2 Skunk Cars (kinda like Doodlebugs) collided head on in 1964. The Skunk cars involved were M-80 and M-100. M-80 was scrapped after the crash while M-100 survives and even runs to this day.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

I have rode the California Western a lot with my Dad’s Parents. I haven’t went on those motor cars or that steam locomotive. I did rode behind the diesel locomotives though.

[@evantgse]

Ah yes our good state California

[@evantgse]

Also I believe travel town has a self propelled car or something similar

[@nathancorcoran5347]

@@evantgse I live in California.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

@@evantgse Niles Canyon Railway does have a California Western Motor Car in operation.

[@IronhorseSara]

I'm glad those kids helped bring the memorial to life, those poor souls should never be forgotten

[@htos1av]

RIP to all the victims. SO good to see you producing these memorial documentaries again, sir!

[@coloradostrong]

Yea, they will sleep for eternity right?

[@florjanbrudar692]

@@coloradostrong Umm duh they're dead

[@disissparta614]

Hey Thunderbolt, just wanted to say the quality of your videos has gone way up. I haven’t watched one of your train wreck documentaries in over a year and there’s a noticeable difference compared to then. Keep it up! It’s important for people to know about these things so history doesn’t repeat itself.

[@teddyduncan1046]

Absolutely agree. The quality has gone way up!

[@bird20040]

I agree

[@carmium]

Just check your pronunciation of words like "permanent," which comes off as "perminget" or something. Overall, though, well done!

[@BTownRailfanPNW]

“He finally remembered his password” **laugh track begins playing** **slow scattered clapping**

[@Ilikebakconn2]

I mean I guess 1 week ago was long if you wanna think that

[@BTownRailfanPNW]

@@Ilikebakconn2 ____ The joke --/you \->

[@Ilikebakconn2]

@@BTownRailfanPNW yes it went right through me and it was painful

[@BTownRailfanPNW]

@@Ilikebakconn2 lol

[@martymcmannis8662]

Dence

[@virtualboi7216]

I live near topton and every once and a while I go see the doodlebug. It so cool that they got to preserve it

[@IrishAnnie]

I have never heard of the “Doodlebug”. Shocking accident. Reading old obituaries, trains killed many people. They fell under the tracks, they were hit by the trains. My grandfather died while waiting on a platform in WV when a passing train lost a piece of the engine and it hit him in the head and killed him instantly. Thank you for sharing this!!!

[@Adamguylol]

im so sorry for your loss!

[@brendanu1680]

For The Next Document, Do Barrhaven, When an inbound via rail and and oc bus crashed, killing 5 outright and injuring 37, one succumbing to her injuries in via rail's deadliest crash since hinton and canada's worst since lac megantic.

[@brendanu1680]

Note,This Took Place On September 18,2013.

[@LolLol-ep1ll]

Wow unfortunate rip that everyone that died I can't even imagine

[@J.Tstudioproduction6375]

Even though I haven’t here’d about this one, but I gotta say, I, very impressed with your hard work on making this. Very nice job on making this. :)

[@Dynamo_11]

Going to go subscribe to your channel,…or have I already subscribed to it?

[@jamesm6638]

apparently you haven't "here'd" about spelling things correctly either

[@larryjohnson6385]

Herd of cows I’ve heard…😂😂

[@dantannadantanna5309]

Thank you to the 13 years young students who would not let the deceased be forgotten. Big shout out!

[@nafs53]

Second that..from UK 👏👍

[@oevilone]

That's within 10 minutes of me. I drive by the memorial often.

[@saraihooper75]

I live in Oregon

[@perhapsadog7130]

I am pretty sure everyone can relate, it seems like everyone has lived by a crash site mentioned in these videos, sorry that you ended up being so close

[@justsomecoronaviruswithint1897]

I’m about 30 minutes away from that

[@slatecollins2254]

Go to it for me pls. I live to far away

[@northamericanrailfan2017]

Same here drive by it every Sunday

[@cliffwestphal3053]

This same scenario happened in 1914 in Neosho, Missouri. A collision between a Doodlebug from the Missouri and North Arkansas and a freight from the Kansas City Southern. Given the rural area, it took much longer for a response. Similar loss of life.

[@whitemountainproductions]

Really I never knew that

[@HSMiyamoto]

Note: "EMD" = Electromotive Division, i.e., the EMD part of General Motors.

[@ddthompson42]

EMD now stands for Electro-Motive Diesel. GM-EMD (Division) came after EMC and before EMD (Diesel).

[@HSMiyamoto]

@@ddthompson42 I guess I'm an old timer railfan. I've never heard of the D in EMD standing for Diesel. At any event, it would have been EMD when those doodlebugs were converted to diesel.

[@victoriacyunczyk]

@@HSMiyamoto EMD these days is under Progress Rail.

[@district2productions]

@@ddthompson42 what?

[@ddthompson42]

@@district2productions What?

[@TehKitteh01]

These stories are always really interesting, despite the tragic nature of them. What I like most though, is that it allows us to recognize the lives lost that would otherwise likely be forgotten about as time goes on. They were mothers, fathers, children, siblings, friends and people who deserve to be remembered.

[@ArturoRailProductions]

As someone who railfans the Cuyahoga falls area. I’m glad this was posted.

[@Steve.imler.]

Me too!

[@6777Productions]

Same! I posted a bit more in depth comment, but the memorial was the first time I had ever been exposed to a fatal rail accident when I was young. It has shapens my life and really driven the way I want my career to go. Also, you changed your channel name! How did I not notice that!

[@ArturoRailProductions]

@@6777Productions Yeah i did change it. I’m not limited to Ohio any more. As I have Railfanned in almost 10 different states now.

[@nicholmansgarage3501]

As bad as this accident was, one thing thunder said made me kinda laugh. As the doodlebug left the station, he claimed it was a "warm summers evening" One of my favorite songs, Kenny Rogers's 'The Gambler's starts with "On a warm summers evening, on a train bound for nowhere..."

[@chrismanning1746]

That's a good tune My mom bought that album when it came out

[@nicholmansgarage3501]

@@chrismanning1746 agreed! I almost bought a Kenny rogers album the other day, but I didn't have my wallet with me. Or a way to play it lol.

[@LastSpartan2005]

I started singing it, too

[@6777Productions]

This has been my "favorite" rail accident, for a few reasons. I'm a native to Akron/Cuyahoga falls area and the old PRR line has always been of interest to me. The memorial that was set up to remember the victims was one of the first times I had ever been introduced to a fatal rail accent when I was young, and burned a memory into me that I will never forget. This accident is one of the main reasons I desire to go into rail accident investigation with the NTSB or FRA one day. To help learn from history, and to prevent this from ever happening again. The fact that the memorial was brought up and paid for by a group of 7th grade students at the local middle school as well always surprised me. To think kids would be that generos and look out in memoriam to people that passed away some 60 years before they were born always warmed my heart. Out of tragedy there was some good. *And as a side note, there is a strat up company that desires to run trains on this line again. However, it keeps running into some problems with the locals the line would run by. I would love to see trains on this line again, but it highly unlikely. Great video nevertheless, could have sent you some shots of the lines current state if I had know a video was being made! Oh well, maybe if you need/want to update the video one day, we can get in touch

[@rayward7609]

Having lived on High Street in Cuyahoga Falls, shortly before the tragedy, I was asked by a teenage neighbor friend to walk downtown (Front Street). I was about 4 years old and pretty shy. On the way home we stopped by the train station while the Doddlebug was stopped there. My friend seemed to know the two PRR uniformed Doddlebug employees standing on the platform waiting to get back on to continue the ride up to Hudson. They asked me if I had ever ridden on the Doodlebug and I said, "No." They then said they would take me up to Hudson and bring me back but I was too scared to go and hid behind my older friend. They all laughed. We then went home and I forgot about it until the tragedy happened. Having not told my mom that I was going downtown with Lamar, I never told anyone about it until I saw this documentary. Thank you for the sad but true memory. Sometime close to that period a neighbor kid that lived on Talmadge Avenue was coming home from St. Joseph school and was standing on one set of tracks watching a passing train go by and was struck and killed by another train going the opposite direction on the tracks he was standing on. This would have been on Broad Blvd. just past the river. In 1944 we lived on 3rd Street and a P-40 military airplane flew over our house trailing smoke and then flames. The pilot ejected and came down and just cleared our 2 story garage roof and landed in a small grove of pine trees a hundred or so feet away. My dad and the neighbors put a ladder up into the tree and cut the pilot free from his parachute. He asked my dad, "Where did the plane go?" My dad told him, "It crashed in the river!" He was injured and bleeding and was taken to a hospital. The plane actually landed on High Street about a block from where I formerly lived. There had been a couple of kids playing in the yard before being called inside for lunch where it crashed and was half buried.

[@6777Productions]

@@rayward7609 Dang, that's a lot of good old stories I have never heard before! It's always (to me) intriguing to talk to people like you and learn from them, take in their stories, and consider how life was different back then. You never know how the small stuff you forget about on the day to day basis, the stuff that becomes normal, all become a part of history. Wonderful stories, especially the one about the plane!

[@scootermom1791]

@@rayward7609 so the kids survived, right? The plane didn't crash into their house? Extremely tragic about the kid who was killed by a train! I'm surprised he didn't feel the vibrations from the train approaching behind him in order to get out of the way quickly enough. That had to have been so horrible for people to find him and also for his family. 😢😢😢

[@scootermom1791]

Are you taking classes, then, for train accident investigations?

[@6777Productions]

@@scootermom1791 My degree from Penn State will be "Railroad Transportation Engineering"; which is basically a civil engineering degree with a focus in railroad transportation. With that I see myself starting off with track inspection with a Class 1 or something, get my feet wet, then see what opens up in the accident investigation. Hopefully it all works out!

[@pirigrinfalcon6029]

You should do the Naperville train disaster, would be a great story to hear

[@mbryson2899]

Agreed! When I was a kid I met some older railfans and model railroaders in Elmhurst two of whom were on-scene at the accident when they were kids.

[@I_am_Diogenes]

13:50 A little history lesson based on a "I was there ." moment . Your assessment that diesel is more expensive is the reason cars run on gasoline and trucks run on diesel is not quite accurate . Diesel WAS cheaper than gasoline prior to 1982 . My dad bought a new '82 3/4 diesel Chevy for only ONE reason , diesel was almost a dollar per gallon cheaper at the pump than gasoline at the time . Within a YEAR diesel prices at the pump met or exceeded gasoline prices and have remained steady since . I also remember hearing the truck drivers complaining about the price increase over such a short time frame and how it would affect their bottom lines . At least you did mention the one reason I have actually heard why diesel was chosen as a fuel .... vehicles tend to be harder to ignite when running on diesel than with gasoline . (think military type vehicles)

[@yomikaianimator4689]

“Thunder, I want to Thank for the Railroad Disasters, Ever Since you’ll First Made the Documentaries, I hope you Keep up The Good Work and Good Luck for your Time” - (me) 10/10

[@kartoonfanatic]

Back binged all your videos since covering the Tangiwai incident. I haven't learned as much about trains and locomotives from any other youtuber. Your research is great and your documentary quality only gets better and better--history teachers could absolutely use these for lectures. I'm sorry about the troubles you faced last year, and I'm glad they haven't stopped you from doing what you enjoy and what's turned into a very successful channel. NGL, it may have already been asked, but I'd love to see you collab with Fascinating Horror, another channel that occasionally covers the same topics with a very respectful and thorough narration style. Here's waiting for the 100K milestone!

[@Flymochairman1]

A sombre tale indeed. Thanks for posting. If you can read the books on 'The Quintinshill Disaster 1915', that happened in the UK here in 1915, there are many of the same elements at play there too, making the crash much worse than would be expected today. Cheers!

[@nini_stols]

I absolutely love the universal measurement conversions and trivia added like that Europe has plenty of diesel cars! Well researched and very polished, keep it up!

[@owenmccarthy2521]

I was just visiting 4483 the other day. The people who own it are trying to restore it, but it’s rough. I climbed onto the footplate, there was a tree growing in the tender, it’s missing a fair bit of the driving mechanism, and the track resembles something of a bogg because of the recent rain storms in Western New York.

[@kellypumpkin9130]

This came up in my recommend. I’m a disaster doc fan, and I’m happy to have found your channel. Never heard of a lot of these.

[@strobelightbrian]

Love the animations! Really makes the video pop. Great work!

[@Samxd90]

Correction its a game

[@The8BitNerd]

I like how you did a nice brief history on the self repelled cars.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

…the repellent didn’t work that day! but seriously, I agree…they worked well but diesel was the clear champion of rail after that, sadly it came at a cost

[@The8BitNerd]

@@bostonrailfan2427 Yeah this incident basically spelled doom for gasoline powered rail vehicles.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I felt it was necessary so people not only knew what Doodlebugs were, it was another way to teach an interesting piece of history.

[@quad5186]

@@bostonrailfan2427 No, they weren’t emitting enough against those two beasts ( hippos as they were called here ) doodlebugs were usually capable of producing about a third of the repellent that would have worked here.

[@looloo4029]

Self-propelled cars……

[@hughmungas5462]

Great video. I love the railroad wreck history. Side note: I have all three of the I-1 Decapods in this video in model form.

[@BrokenAngelWings]

Nice as always. I really enjoy those series, because you don't hear anything from US Train Disasters here in Germany. But I think they're really interesting as I'm overall a fan of the US Railway. And I really appreciate it that you translated the imperial units into metric so I can understand it as well without having to pause all the time, translate it and then go on. I enjoy it that I can watch a video without pausing all the time.

[@allisonreithmeier555]

This sounds darn 😢 ooh do the San Rafael River train disaster, the 1991 Union Square derailment, and the Russell Hill Subway accident

[@雪者]

Been a while since we've seen a documentary.

[@drumbum6759]

The line is out of service but completely intact on this section. The crash happened between Front St and the stone bridge. All still remains and can be walked.

[@Steve.imler.]

I am so glad you made a video about this. I student taught at Cuyahoga Falls and would go to visit this site a lot. There is a plaque. Interesting story, a gentleman by the last name of Clifford was on the train. He taught to get the stadium at CFHS built and was on his way to see it on the doodlebug. Unfortunately he never got to see his stadium. It is named Clifford stadium to this day.

[@ericheld4382]

Wasnt he also related to the owner of Clifford Furnral home

[@survivinutah]

I am now quite perplexed and now wish I could ask my mom why she called me doodlebug when I was little. I totally forgot about it until this video popped up.

[@GuretoSefirosu]

Diesel is not more expensive to produce than gasoline. In fact, it is far cheaper. The reason diesel sells for so much more is, plain and simple, government taxes. The world runs on diesel. It is a far greener fuel than gasoline and produces more power as well. The sole reason diesel is not our primary fuel in cars si due to artificial inflation on a fuel that is cheaper to produce than gasoline.

[@therevchannel.notforkids.3408]

I was here for the premiere, you're one of my favorite train KZbinrs keep up the great work.

[@Trainfan1055Janathan]

Technically, United States isn't the only country that uses the Imperial System. Canada, México, and the U.K. still use it. Also, wow, I've never heard of the Allentown and Auburn Railroad. Surprisingly, it's not in Allentown. Apparently, it started operation in 2015.

[@creepermat]

México?

[@Union4014]

liberia uses the imperial system too

[@frostcate2546]

So a it’s like a country here or there that uses the imperial. Although many of us prefer FREEDOM UNITS

[@terriseaton3049]

This documentary was so well done! I never heard of this accident or car called a Doodlebug. Have always loved trains & consider it a privilege to stop at a railroad crossing to watch the cars rush by.

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Superb! Great story telling. I'm glad these victims could be remembered.

[@PolymerLad]

Thank you for your production, I always look forward to your explanation of these events. As sad as they may be. As a Cleveland native, I don't think I've heard that pronunciation of Cuyahoga before! 😅

[@ard-net2999]

it was... unique. lolz i posted a comment on it.

[@SnowWolf597]

Cleveland native as well, I know right? I mentally flinched lol. I can understand not living in the area how it would be difficult, but it's still funny hearing non-locals trying to pronounce it, since I butcher a ton of places too. Relatable XD

[@katerinakittycat3849]

K&L makes very good models. I have a few of them on my computer too I've also used dependencies from them to make other locomotives work

[@1900-e8f]

In regards to the face in the photo at approximately the 8:00 mark, there is also a face in the first window on the left, which appears to be wearing a firefighter's helmet. The two people are probably firemen and/or investigators doing overhaul after the fire.

[@AhJodie]

Horrible accident, but, well made video. Thank you!

[@UseTheSix]

Love the animation in this video! As well as the detailed information and some of the other trains. I saw a train like the “Paul Revere” once with my dad on a backroad in NJ, but it definitely wasn’t that train. This one was a lot bigger and still had “PENNSYLVANIA” painted on top of it, just like on the Paul Revere, right above the windows. Keep up the awesome videos!

[@williamfischer5336]

Great work as always Thunderbolt. As a suggestion, I be interested in hearing your take on the derailment at Tug river in '56 involving N&W 611.

[@jenniferk9242]

Just discovered your channel, enjoying it very much! I can notice the improvement in quality and voiceover from your earlier videos and I always appreciate when content providers put that effort in for their viewers. Lots of train disasters I've never heard of and some more indepth information on some I was aware of. I've always loved trains from the time I was given my grandfather's Lionel trains when he died in the mid 70s. Oh if I'd only known to hold on to those, but I was only 9 when i got them, and well, teenage girls lose interest in things like trains. I left home at 17 and my mother discarded them. Never been on a train, but I hear the freight train coming through on the other side of town and the sound of the whistle sets me dreaming of maybe one day taking a cross country trip in a sleeper car. Although modern trains don't delight me as much as the old ones. I do ramble. Anyway, good job and thanks for the content and the memories!

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

rest in peace everyone that was that did live after that

[@johnwrigley1624]

I learned about this at an early age. I'm from Cuyahoga Falls, and my dad was a railfan. I don't think he was there because he lived in Akron at the time, but he knew the exact spot where it happened. Took us there a couple of times in the early 60s.

[@sirrliv]

But wait, something about that cause doesn't make sense. At the time of the collision, the Doodlebug was running passenger-end first, with the baggage/engine compartment at the rear. If carbon monoxide fumes were building up to such an extent as to affect the driver, that would imply some pretty major factors, including gaps between the passenger and baggage sections, such as a pass-through door left open (likely against regulations, though I can't confirm), possibly a serious exhaust problem with the Bug's engine that left it spewing considerable amounts of exhaust into the car rather than up the stack, and the driver operating the car with no ventilation, not even a cracked open window, also not unheard of but highly unusual. And most importantly, if there were enough fumes inside the car to affect the driver, then it would be affecting everyone else in there too and likely more, which makes it weirder that nobody else noticed or said anything; no passenger complaints, no conductor or brakemen checking what was wrong, etc. Had the Bug been running engine first, all this would make perfect sense, but since it was in effect going backwards, how could fumes have built up to such a degree with the driver as far away from the engine as physically possible?

[@chuckgilly]

Also, why didn't the conductor or brakeman notice the siding, they would have had the same set of train orders?

[@mrjohnjohn1219]

Might explain why none of the passengers bailed with the crew, if they were so doped up on carbon monoxide

[@bostonrailfan2427]

it doesn’t add up, it’s a bad explanation for what happened. the easiest cause is the most likely: he missed the siding and botched the meetup

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@chuckgilly that to me is classic CYA: cover your ass. they supported the others’ excuses to make it sound plausible even if utter garbage

[@glasshalfempty887]

I thought the same thing. So incapacitated that they missed the siding, but at the same time alert enough to hit the brakes and jump to safety. Surprised that the explanation was never challenged at the time.

[@Henriqueleal0609]

NICELY DONE! Great to see these docs back Too bad sim people died in the crash 😔

[@SadisticSenpai61]

Aww, Doodlebug! That sounds so cute. Oh wait, "disaster" - Oh. No. 😱

[@colliecandle]

Very interesting piece of history. Being ex railman myself, i had no idea this tragedy happend. Here in this country, we have had our share of fatal railway incidents - Quintinshill being the most notorious.

[@vernmorris8898]

If the rail car had only passed the switch by a quarter mile (440 yards or 402 meters) before the collision (11:20 in the vid)) how would they have had time to stop, throw the switch, drive onto the siding and throw the switch back before the freight got there? That would have been ridiculously close timing to count on.

[@jaysmith1408]

They entered the siding properly on the one end, they just blew through it and out the other side. Or They were supposed to take the siding, they didn’t, and blew clear past it on the main

[@galeschool]

@@jaysmith1408 I think he means if the collision occurred only 1/4 mile past the siding, the two trains were scheduled too close to each other and if the doodlebug had been running 45 seconds late, it would have collided with the freight before reaching the siding.

[@jaysmith1408]

@@galeschool the scheduling is why the bug was ordered to stop before the switch, i’m not sure whether the bug was on the siding and blew back onto the main, or whether the freight was to take the siding in front of the bug, which was what threw me off from his comment. I read the original comment as under the impression that he expected the bug to back onto a spur before the arrival of a freight, i was correcting that it was a full siding, and there would be no requirement to stop and back in, as he suggested. It is conceivable that a scheduling delay could have permitted a rolling meet, but between the variable speeds of both trains, and the bug’s engineer being unable to follow the simplest of orders, let alone the task of speed management for a rolling meet of a freight whose exact location is unknown to him, i doubt scheduling, outside of holding the freight at the next siding back, since the bug’s schedule is the exact same every day, would have averted this.

[@vernmorris8898]

My understanding of the operation of a siding on a single track mainline is as follows. At various places along the mainline a switch opens onto a second side track that runs parallel to the mainline and is long enough to accommodate any trains that might be required to stop to let another train go by. This sidel track then switches back onto the mainline at the other end. Before the days of remote switch throwing the train to be sided had to come to a stop so a crew member could climb down and manually throw the switch. The train would then proceed onto the siding and when clear of the mainline the same or another crew member (depending on the length of the train) would throw the switch back again. The train would then advance along the side track until near the switch back to the mainline and wait until the oncomming train had passed. Then the switch would be thrown and the train would proceed back onto the mainline and then again stop while the switch was thrown back. Then the train would proceed on its journey. The timing of trains has to allow for the time to stop, throw the switch, proceed onto the siding and throw the switch back. You want a good time window for safety say 10 to 15 minutes or more. In this case if the collision occurred only a quarter mile past the switch or siding then there simply would not have been a safe time window to stop and enter the siding. The oncoming train would very likely have hit the railcar before it could make it onto the siding.

[@jaysmith1408]

@@vernmorris8898 oh i see what you’re getting at. I would imagine that in the case as posed, they would be required to throw the initial switch, which they failed to do, but as for timing, there would be an expectation that the bug would have arrived first, not to mention being far more agile, the stopping, starting, and walking, would be a lot easier for the bug than the freight. As i read further, since the bug was supposed to switch onto the siding in the first place (had they been running late, the freight would have been obligated to hold at the far end of the siding) and they didn’t, and the freight would not be expected to take the siding, regardless of timing, under the orders as issued, there would have been a head on collision at some point on the line. Back to the point, that is correct, yet lengthy, procedure, for a slow speed, lightly used line. As has been proven in both Canada, and the United States, such a labour intensive, failure probe, safety critical, and undetectable until far too late, procedure, is dangerous on all but the slowest lines. Via has had derailments due to reversed switches, Amtrak and Norfolk Southern have had several collisions due to reversed manual switches.

[@luciaconn6788]

Narration & graphics perfect. I love the train and reside by a single track that tells me a lot about what's happening, commercially, what material's needed in after disasters. Every single box car's painted bottom & almost to top with Graffiti. It's supposed to be high speed but isn't. A lot of freight runs at night to avoid being sided by commuter rail.

[@TheMilwaukeeRoad]

suggestion: do the midland train vs. truck collision involving u.s. soldiers

[@aj_killjoy]

Could you please do the Chicago rail commuter crash from 1972? It’s when 2 IC trains collided and resulted in the deadliest train crash in Chicago history. As a Chicago native, I would really appreciate it.

[@mrjohnjohn1219]

"What was left of the doodlebug was sent to the scrapyard" "the two locomotives were called in for minor repairs" Damn😂

[@victoriacyunczyk]

Unfortunately, light passenger equipment often crushes easily. There was a collision on British Rail between a Class 142 "Pacer" DMU and a regular train (can't remember where or when). The 142 was empty, but one coach was damaged beyond repair, while the other train was only lightly damaged.

[@tinytonymaloney7832]

I have to say the quality of the graphics here is fantastic. I could just sit here watching the entire train journey.

[@trainboi]

I wish the concept of that railcar was revived

[@florjanbrudar692]

3 of them are preserved

[@HSMiyamoto]

Diesel multiple unit trains are used all over the world. For example, the NCTD Sprinter between Oceanside and Escondido, CA.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

it was…the RDCs of the 50s/60s/70s were these evolved, they have struggled as a concept for decades due to costs due to severe regulation but slowly are making a dent in the US again

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@HSMiyamoto or the older River Line in New Jersey

[@HSMiyamoto]

@@bostonrailfan2427 - Yes there are quite a few, if you look around. I was just giving a shout out to one that I ride personally. A new diesel railcar line is opening soon between San Bernardino and Redlands, CA., and there is e-BART between Pittsburg/Bay Point and Antioch stations. What you notice is that diesel LRT tends to go where train frequency and projected ridership is too low to justify electrification, and they run on otherwise lightly-used tracks so collisions with conventional rail equipment is completely preventable. Inevitably, that makes them minor obscurities when compared to LRT globally. Coaster, for example, is a twice an hour operation, but then, so are most of the buses in our part of San Diego county.

[@robertbruce1887]

Thank you for a thorough account of yet another rail tragedy that l didn't know about. I must admit l haven't been fully aware of how many terrible rail accidents there have been in North America.

[@CJTynan]

Keep up the amazing work thunder bolt

[@brendanstrains9725]

Amazing work! I didn’t know there was a doodlebug that got wrecked! It’s a shame non of the original doodle bugs or the two decapods made it into preservation.

[@bluebellsfan8704]

This was amazing! Great work. R.I.P all those people. But where did you get the music for the credits?

[@brassmonkeyheheha]

the line this accident happened on ran from cuyahoga falls to hudson, but it has been torn up and abandoned since 2009. NS still uses the wye at hudson but only for one local

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Quite sad there.

[@108CAM]

I really like how you used Trainz and photoshopped the fire over the trains after the collision. It’s a great way to show how the accident unfolded when we don’t have any recorded videos of the actual accident.

[@davidrice3337]

Credit to the 3 incredibly thoughtful students who came together for this cause - people living now are so myopic , so insulated from a world - not so long ago - where death by disaster and or illness was commonplace - the infant mortality rate not withstanding - We should appreciate what our kin went thru in order to be more comfortable and self sufficient - now because of greed there is a movement to push us backward - all in the name of a false narrative - I would love the hear what Henry Ford would say about these issues -

[@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702]

Interesting story and greetings from México

[@dylansmith1364]

It's awesome to hear that Revere Copper and Brass (now Revere Copper Products) donated money to help restore 4662. They are based not far from where I live.

[@ikreer9777]

They are the makers of Revereware, correct? Still using the pans purchased 30 years ago.

[@henrygreenengine3183]

I love these vids so much keep up the great work!! I’m gonna save up and support your patron.

[@florjanbrudar692]

You are a "patron"

[@giggity8249]

Makes you wonder how 90 years later. We haven't gotten very far with public transportation. Like we're stuck. Got to be oil money. It's blocked ...ingenuity.

[@Vitamins_car]

Thunder bolt I love the documentaries there my fav can you make more pls?

[@trainsfanthepro7920]

Right

[@Mnrr6131]

12:24 well that’s probably why Everyone died in the accident since it seemed so close to the passenger compartment

[@robinfryer479]

That was a jolly good, comprehensive, detailed account, by any standards. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thankyou very much. As a PS, I can tell you that here in England single-line working, is rigorously superintended. AFAICT, there have been no more than 3 single line accidents on railways in GB. They were due to misuse of the safety equipment. I daresay that it’s easier for a small country to pay better attention to safety issues. In UK, either the freight train, or the passenger train would have been stopped and held, before the other had been authorised to proceed. But this also included the use of fairly basic instruments and telegraph. USA is big, and perhaps employing signalmen and tablets (tokens) all over the place would be frightfully expensive.

[@Trainboy11]

Amazing work man

[@CSX_Doolittle]

Thanks for making this video I live in that area and never thought a big channel like yours would make this video

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Just so you know, the decapod were not called “hippos”. That name went to the PRR 2-10-2s. This is still insane!

[@ikreer9777]

A sad tragedy, but thank you for the history lesson. I watched when I saw the title because my mom regularly rode a doodlebug when she was in jr. high, which would have been some years after this accident. Grandpa was a WV coal miner, and at one job they lived aways out of the main town, so if they needed to do some shopping, they ride the doodlebug to town. Mom enjoyed riding it, and speaks fondly of that area.

[@thusharafernando759]

I am a kid but I love watching documentaries.

[@carlsmith2641]

Imagine dying horrifically in a burning coach and almost 100 years later the incident you died in is called the doodlebug disaster

[@marthaisgodd]

My great grandpa was in the navy, but he passed away. I love my great grandpa so much. ❤

[@nigelkthomas9501]

When I read the word “Doodlebug” I thought this accident had some connection with a V1 flying bomb. We have single car trains in the UK and they’re known as “Dogboxes”!

[@rockingtr1]

Colliding One quarter mile past the siding? It does not seem as if the bug had a reasonable amount of time to stop, exit & switch the turnout in time to avoid the collision either way. Somebody speeding or dawdling?

[@crusinscamp]

Thanks for the bit of history. We use to have RDCs (Rail Diesel Cars) on the Reading Railroad, They ran between Lansdale, PA and Bethlehem, PA. This was on the Philadelphia to Bethlehem Reading main line. Most of the commuter traffic was on the electrified section between Philadelphia and Lansdale, but they continued the commuter traffic north to Bethlehem via RDCs. Most of the traffic to Bethlehem was Taconite ore for Bethlehem Steel. That all ended long ago, but you can still find Taconite pellets along the rails. Now I understand why they used diesel.

[@teresawelborn1360]

This is very well presented. The animations so clear and easy to follow. I love to see stories like this but so sad for the people that died.Those poor train engineers and brakeman carrying that nightmare with them till the day they died.

[@jerrymeeuwse859]

Very nice. Great job putting this together. We appreciate your time and expertise.

[@mikmik9034]

Herr Diesel developed his Engine to burn Vegetable Oil (Flash point of 400+ degrees) The petroleum industry which took his design converted them to run on fossil Oil (Flash point of around 380+ degrees).

[@mikeysmoldymovies5492]

Very well done. Yesterday is the anniversary of a remarkably similar head-on accident. On Aug 5 1914 just south of Joplin Mo at Tipton Ford when a southbound Missouri & North Arkansas doodlebug slammed into a northbound KCS freight train. 43 lives lost also.

[@florjanbrudar692]

Yesterday was. Also the death toll is disputed.

[@Jonahs_Trucks_And_More]

4483 still sits there as of last week. I live in Hamburg NY. It's a gem of history. In Syracuse NY, they have alot of old former Rail Cars from when rail was huge. Amtrak, and some other older lines

[@beeenn649]

I remember in 1982 a SEPTA RDC hit a gas tanker truck at Southampton Pa. and what an explosion that was. The crossing signals failed because the single RDC lacked the additional electronic axle shunts which insured that gates & flashers would trip. The engineer died 2 weeks later due to 80% burns over his body and 3 others were injured. If not for being the day after New Year and a Saturday, I'm sure things would have been much worse.

[@dkelzenb]

Very similar to the FIRST accident at Montgomery, IL, overshadowed by the later horrible wreck between CB&Q and RI passenger trains. In this first accident, a steam-powered freight struck a gas doodlebug head on, with a similar explosion, killing many. Perhaps you could do a bit of research on it and create a video?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

That sounds like an excellent idea. I'll look into it

[@dkelzenb]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren In the Montgomery Doodlebug accident, the baggage and mail sections were directly behind the cab/engine compartment, with the passenger section at the rear of the car. This saved many lives, although the operating, baggage, and mail crew were incinerated. The wreck happened in 1943. There is a fascinating story of a young heroine who saved passenger lives in the wreck here: historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2021/12/14/fiery-1943-oswego-train-wreck-produced-a-young-heroine/

[@Mooftress]

I did a podcast on this disaster on The Cornfield Meet. I found several articles in newspapers covering this disaster. I'm from Ohio and had never heard of this. It was absolutely horrific. My husband and I got out to the memorial and visited the site where it happened. Some of the old line is still there but trees, weeds, and grass has grown over it. I believe there is also a memorial bench right where the collision happened. It was a very sober experience standing where this disaster happened.

[@litiviousspartus4611]

Never knew about this tragedy.

[@kainhall]

what program do you use to make these videos??? is it TRAINZ??? . also.... can i suggest you look into RUN8 (its not on steam.... yet) but it is THEE most realistic sim i have even played . it only has SD/GP 40 and newer locos and cars...... but they are adding content fairly quickly for a dev team of like 10 dudes . the next update should bring better weather effects and derailments IIRC . . . but the way you can forget to open the angle cock.... so you dont have brakes or coupler "slack action"..... which can break (from too much pull OR push) the way the air brake systems work is SPOT on..... . you can set up DPUs..... and even "fence" them (so you can control the middle and back units independently from the lead units) . like... i have ran a train with 2 SD-70s followed by 3 SD-40-s and i can move the fence around.... so the controls in the cab control all, 4, 3, 2 or just the very lead unit and then control the other locos using the screens in the cab . i usually control the two SD-70s...... then set the fence between the SD70 and the SD40s.... due to their different power outputs . or if i have helpers on the back..... i can reduce power at the front, and keep it on in the rear..... when i crest a hill . . . . TLDR........ its VERY realistic its what real engineers play in their free time (or even use for training.... as the routes and physics are THAT good) .

[@callumh5294]

Fun fact: PRR drivers had complained about the fumes in the cab (which got into the cab because the exhaust pipe would break often, sending fumes into the cab) and the PRR did nothing until after the disaster.