The Great Train Wreck of 1918 100 years later

Probably one of the most significant documentaries I've made here it is! The Great Train Wreck of 1918 100 years later. We look back a century later to shine some light on a wreck that enhanced so many important safety upgrades.
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[@HobbyOrganist]

the same year a circus train was hit by another train whose engineer fell asleep, 86 people were killed in that one June 22, 1918. The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck killed at least 86 and injured 127 on June 22, 1918, near Hammond.

[@nswers]

That's creepy...

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

And there was a subway wreck that tied this one for fatalities at 101, the Malbone Street Wreck. The year... you guessed it... 1918. We just passed the 100th anniversary of that one too on November 1st.

[@iLaughAtUrFail]

@@RyansColoradoRailProductions yes indeed that was in the NYC transit system. also all wooden coaches. the operator was a dispatcher pressured into service due to the strike. the official death toll was 93 people. the motorman survived

[@gottsavezekaiser1918]

It's a miracle you were able to find info on the locomotives. This is easily the most insightful documentary ever made about this wreck. I thought the crew were impatient and sped through the signal before I saw this.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

A miracle I found a photo or 2 of either engine. That's why some were repeated.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions I never thought the two locomotives weren't damaged beyond repair.

[@redrock717]

Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions did you check the N.C.&.STL. historical society website? They still have all kinds of photos and records.

[@rasmusjonsson1348]

A tragedy indeed. The worst train wreck in Sweden happened the very same year, on the 1 October 1918 a train 422 pulled by steam locomotive type F number 1200 was carrying 170 passengers derailed when it ran over a section of track hanging in the air due a heavy rainfall had washed the embankment away. The locomotive crashed down on a road and became laying on it's side, all passenger cars except for the restaurant car was totally destroyed, they were built out of wood and burnt to there frames. 42 lives where lost and 41 injured, the engineer survived but got a concussion, the fireman was buried under coal from the tender. The wreck is known as the Getå accident. (Getå is a place in south Sweden.) F 1200 was restored and in working condition about 6 months after the wreck and it has survived to this day and is in working order on a railway museum in the town I live in called Gävle.

[@doncasterworkshops-tf3490]

😱

[@Dannyedelman4231]

42 deaths is not as much as this accident

[@mandyplodek639]

1918 was a bad year for railroading

[@TRARP05]

Rest in peace to those people who died

[@youraveragejoe2]

And to those that have long since passed away

[@griytzmessesup2212]

Evreyone who was on the train is dead today. Or else anyone over the age of 23 would be th ed oldest person on earth today.

[@Gamerafighter76]

Amen. Also, the stories behind these disasters may be horrible, but you do a good job of informing us.

[@sub2pewdiepienowunsubt-ser119]

Plz like the comment, 1 like=1 praire

[@ee-yc3dy]

From the wreck and after the wreck (cause this happened in 1918 and hardly anyone from 1918 is alive)

[@napalm4638]

Rule 1 if about to collide with another train, just keep pulling your whistle

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I heard that was a common thing even today to warn nearby inhabitants of a possible crash. It's like a final cry for help before the inevitable.

[@josephnadler5521]

Rule 2: slam on the brakes and/or throw the locomotive into reverse

[@andyjay729]

5:17 He only had one day left till retirement.

[@unknownindividual3461]

That was his last trip until retirement too.

[@alyfepoisonbunny2716]

Like Titanic

[@ee-yc3dy]

That's sad

[@nolongeractive7446]

He should been retired before that day so he could of not died

[@jamesfracasse8178]

Note to self: if you are a day out from retirement don't go out, you never know what could happen.

[@sylvesteryoung2514]

My great grandfather's uncle died in that wreck, he was very silent on the every July 9th thinking about him that day. I really hope that my great grandfather would meet his uncle in heaven. Can you do the Hoxie, Arkansas Train Collision

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

I might, because he gave me permission to do other wrecks that he for sure won't do. I'm pretty much the only person to know the engine numbers involved in the Hoxie collision too

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

Btw, the engines were: Southbound MASNL-16 UP 9707 (GE C44-9W) Leading CSXT 4716 (EMD SD70MAC) Trailing Northbound QNLPI-17 UP 5070 (EMD SD70M) leading UP 4530 (EMD SD70M) trailing All locomotives deemed damaged beyond repair/a total loss, and the 4 engines were scrapped on site.

[@sylvesteryoung2514]

@@RyansColoradoRailProductions The North Bound train is from North Little Rock

[@Mike-tg7dj]

The old White Bridge Road viaduct is still there. Its a scary curve . thanks for covering it.

[@Tape_Time]

I used to live in Nashville for almost my entire life and even lived a short walk away from the wreck sight so I’m glad you did this. I’ve been to the wreck sight myself and have seen the metal parts that still rest in the river along with one of the driving wheels. I would recommend going there if you haven’t or are just planning a trip to Nashville in the future.

[@1TruNub]

Supposably the site is haunted

[@JerryDoesThings_1604]

Kory Bradley vould’nt be suprrized comrade...

[@lambdastudios4083]

I've been alive and have been living in Murfreesboro for 15 years and never heard about this?

[@ee-yc3dy]

The cursed part of the railroad line

[@Gamerafighter76]

I thank you for detailing old, old train accidents like these; the stories might not be pretty, but at least we get some history.

[@TheDomeHepot010]

4:19 I love that sound effect you used!

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

That was a combo of multiple effects

[@TheDomeHepot010]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren well you did a great job with this sound effect, because I like to use it when my model train derails

[@CoalChrome]

"The birds flew from the treetops, as the impact shook the ground, the screech of wheels and the grind of steel could be heard for miles around."

[@alan6832]

passenger trains on single track strike me as inherently scary. without some pretty sophisticated electronic fail-safe's perhaps they need speed limits on such tracks that are within visual stopping distance. Brakes that clamp the rails from the sides might help too, thus not being limited to the friction coefficient times the weight.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Good thing SEPTA lines are mainly 2 track (4 when on Amtrak lines) with only a few pockets being single track

[@oreo3740]

Rest In Peace, Howard Scammerhorn, Fireman 3rd class in the Navy, and my great granduncle

[@lennylaa1686]

also, Quintinshill, Scotland, May 1915, up to 200 dead involving a troop train in a 3 train crash. wooden carriages caught fire.

[@oron61]

Greg AVFC 69/70 Jones They were often heated by coal stoves, the coals were hot enough to catch the wood by themselves.

[@Carter_H]

That's one amazing documentary and video!

[@jeremyasher297]

I agree with what Robert Said

[@equarg]

I found the song on KZbin. Wow. That was deep. May the dead RIP. Gone, but not forgotten.

[@virginiarailfannoah5415]

5:07 Anyone here think that the Nashville-bound engineer said "only some time before retirement" just before the wreck?

[@arleth1475]

History repeats itself again

[@mamarussellthepie9745]

Have we seen the last great train wreck of 1918??? "I HOPE NOT" - NARRATOR

[@brianmorgan5739]

Noah Russell. I thought that comment " I hope not" by the narrator to be rather out of order. No normal person ever wishes for the worst to ever happen again.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I didn't realize I said it like that until after upload and I was like "ah crap" You get what I mean with I hope another wreck like this doesn't happen. I had a script handy and I messed up on that last line :/

[@EricH_1983]

Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions You sick animal lol. XD

[@Flight-wo6jn]

A sick part of me wants another disaster on this scale, out of sheer morbid interest in accidents like this, but in reality, we are very likely to never have something this horrible again... which I am very glad about.

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

Reminds me of “Bye George!” From Thomas and Friends

[@dumdum7786]

I bet this one was harder to make due to the lack of footage, am I right?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Lack of photos for the engines as well. Some had to be repeated unfortunately. But I still did it

[@paisleepunk]

Maybe you make a mini episode about the time when an L. & M. loco ran over a guy on opening day.

[@loganwright8430]

Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions They should make a movie of this train wreck.

[@jeremyasher297]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren train number 1: I'ma ruin ur day train number 4: RIP me

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

Is it just me or am I the only one to notice that the collision happened at 4:20?

[@therailroadinghedgehog8479]

The darkest history of the NC&StL beside the mallet 901 explosion

[@talli9853]

train one *thomas theme starts playing*

[@markfrench8892]

I thought the worst train wreck to occurred in the United States was in 1887 when the Niagara Express plowed through a burning trestle near Chatsworth, Illinois. The official death toll for this wreck stood at 81, but it was believed that a number of people died later due to their injuries.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Interesting thought but this wreck had more casualties and involved 2 trains hitting each other head on at such speeds. Not to mention the numerous factors that caused it.

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

And the wreck that occurred in a California town with the same name 121 years later.

[@jamesford2942]

Thanks for the research and videos. They are respectful and the stories won't be so easily forgotten. There is the Amtrak crash on I5 that would be interesting to me, along with the Puget Sound and Pacific coaster gondola full of scrap the crashed into the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. That one happened about 18-20 years ago if I recall correctly.

[@cvbabc]

"And now we have to live with it." LOL. So true Thunderbolt, so true....

[@equarg]

This made me look up the song....... 😞😣It gave me chills! May the dead RIP.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Very sad that this happened. 🙏

[@stevemilam7959]

My Great grandfather David Kennedy was the engineer on the train headed out of Nashville. Ultimately HE was the sole reason/person blamed by the railroad and my family was denied his pension from the railroad because of this. My great grandmother Mary Kennedy and my grandmother Katy-Bell were left destitute except for his pension from the service in the Union army during the Civil War despite his being from Alabama. My family won the case in the state supreme court; however it was overturned and once again denied to his family in the US Supreme Court. My family was left destitute. This was a subject hardly talked about except in whispers because my family believed this was done in retribution for what he had done during the war.

[@oreo3740]

One of my relatives was killed in that train crash before and was going to be deployed in world war 1. RIP :( I wish I met him. Also I went to that train station in Nashville and ate there with my mom and grand mom.

[@signbear999]

1:50 I rode in that train car before

[@derekstocker6661]

Thanks for this piece of American rail history, this crash has shades of the Bryn Athyn crash that I have just watched on YT and almost similar track arrangement of a single line going into a short section of double track for passing purposes. Sad days without a doubt. Great video, and RIP all the people that passed away in this sad happening.

[@Shinyarc]

Thanks for doing this one!

[@jacksalvin364]

On July 9th, 1918 after 4th of July, 2 passenger trains collided at 7:29 a.m., 101 were killed in the collision and 171 were injured the crash collision.

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

Now 101 years later. RIP.

[@Rebel9668]

There was another large train wreck in 1917 in Shepherdsville, KY. Ever thought about doing a documentary on that one? Good documentary of this one, thumbs up.

[@augyyyyy]

"nowadays, as seen today" -Narrator

[@joelharris1335]

In scotland, there is a type of signal called RETB (Radio Electric Token Block). Permission would be transmitted to the driver (engineer) by radio. Before entering a single track section, the driver would ask for permission by radio via a transmitter inside the cab of the locomotive. The instruction to proceed to the next section would then be relayed to the driver once that section is clear. It would also display which signal box the instruction came from. Certain types of trains are fitted with RETB equipment for use in Scotland, for example, British Rail classes: 156 (Super Sprinter) 158 (Express Sprinter) 37 (Locomotive) 66 (Locomotive) Some steam locomotive are also fitted with RETB equipment.

[@trainfanjpt6056]

I love it what you made and I love it! 👍👍👍

[@brendancross2767]

5:17 well, it kinda was his last trip before retirement, said retirement was just pushed a little earlier

[@michelepackard-milamcae7891]

Very well done, I am familiar with this since my great grandfather David C. Kennedy was the engineer on engine 4 outbound from Nashville. We attended the 100th commemoration as the guest of Betsy Thorpe, author of The Day the Whistles Cried which chronicles this event and the effect it had on my family.

[@XenithXenaku]

Could you do the worst train crash in Australia? The 1977 Granville Disaster?

[@therailroadinghedgehog8479]

For those who are wondering there are 3 NC&StL steam locomotive that are in preservation 576 witch is being restored and two narrow gauge 0-4-0 in Tracey city Tennessee

[@robertbruce1887]

Excellent documentary showing how multiple examples of human oversight cause a horrendous disaster.

[@Odin029]

Very well done. I went to high school near there and only heard about this train wreck a year or so ago. The bridge in one of the pictures is still there's a shopping center covering most of the rest of the area

[@Tape_Time]

Odin029 what high school? I used to live in Nashville myself!

[@InlandSeas]

The 1876 Ashtabula Bridge Disaster would be interesting, even though it's not well known.

[@DOLRED]

Check Illinois Central Gulf commuter train wreck 1972. Many casualties because the front train backed up on the track (In a curve yet due to overshooting a station platform). The following Express train had a green block signal and plowed into the first train with resultant telescoping. Each train had different era coach cars.

[@Kasey1776]

Oh my. Also when you get the time, do the Minsk Metro bombing 7 years later

[@muhammadfadhiil3430]

finally its here thanks thunderbolt 1000

[@wildpurple005]

I stopped in Nashville on my way home from Texas once, and there is this road trolly thing (you know, basically buses built to look like a trolly) and as we were driving past the set of tracks, the driver told everyone on board this story, as they have a script to say during their loop. As they did, they explained that it was so loud that it was heard in Nashville two miles away, and I honestly never forgot the story. Then this comes along, oh boy.

[@MetxsightseerRailfan]

Wow its been 100 years later a century

[@sequentialed]

DAMNNNN!!! I NEVER KKNEW THIS HAPPENED IN MY TOWN!!! WOW! Also, RIP union station, why did they make it a hotel... So stupid. It was a really cool station, and the architecture is still cool.

[@laurabaker8832]

Human error seems to be the one variable that cannot be corrected. Even with redundant safety measures, on any given day the unthinkable can happen. Great video!

[@daybird2]

Excellent job!

[@shanemyoutubeshit]

Oh no! Good video.

[@rasputinlenin6699]

I have learned from experience that history repets itself no matter what we do.

[@kevinhansen1151]

great documentary

[@luckyfanisaac2638]

How you ended it was like a scary movie. I got goosebumps.

[@JacobFH]

Would love to see your presentation of the Rennert Train Accident and the Angola Horror if you can. Great stuff, Sir.

[@OmuYasha1990]

You should look into Great Northern's 1910 Wellington Disaster, as well as Canadian Pacific's 1910 Rogers Pass Disaster they happened within 3 days of each other with very similar circumstances. The same Pineapple Express storm caused these two train disasters resulting in 158 deaths. Both were the result of lack of investment in snowsheds in well known Avalanche Chutes. It's a very interesting read.

[@frediacreech3000]

Great series of train wrecks.....very interesting....an now i think i'll just drive my car to a destination.Thanks

[@thebigbluesteamengine63]

I love this video

[@That.BrokenHeadlight]

Try The Wreck of the old 97

[@thomasrichardson2402]

I see you know whats up

[@strikergizmo959]

History repeats itself...

[@kevinlynch1227]

Excellent videos. Thank you. Have you ever heard of the Ashtabula Horror in Ohio, where a passenger train went off the Ashtabula bridge and all the passenger cars burned up due to the wood burning/coal stoves catching the wooden coaches on fire??

[@johndavies9270]

Katie Letcher Lyle refers to this tragedy in her book 'Scalded to Death By the Steam', and includes the words of some old folk songs about it which were composed afterwards. In many ways it is very similar to a disaster in 1921 at a village called Abermule, in central Wales - negligent staff had grown used to the careless observance of train crossing rules on a single line which in this case was protected by Sykes Patent token apparatus. (I don't think this was ever used in America, probably due to the much bigger distances involved than here in Britain) It was a fool-proof system - unfortunately it wasn't idiot proof. There is a difference! As a result a local train left Abermule with the wrong block token, and went head-on into an express coming the other way. It was in fact one of only two occasions when the Sykes system failed to do its job - both on the same railway.

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

"He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle, and was scalded to death by the steam..."

[@lukethecrazyhillbilly6901]

I love your videos Thunderbolt 1000 siren

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Thank you

[@Carter_H]

Here's a suggestion What if you made a video called The Washington State Amtrak train derailment 6 months later if you're not too busy.

[@miked1765]

Well done.

[@CodysTrainz]

This is what inspired a famous tourist Railroad's Ghost Train Excursions.

[@cadence4527]

I got a railroad incident for you. Its known locally in my area as "the Roseville Explosion" and took place at the J.R. Davis Rail Yard. I have yet to see anyone do a video on the incident where 19 rail cars ceased to exist after they exploded due to the load of military bombs they were hauling. It's got two parts to the story, the initial incident and then many years later, bombs that hadn't detonated were discovered on the yard.

[@RailRoadRex439]

You should do a documentary on the Hammond Circus Train Wreck of 1918. It is honestly a very interesting story.

[@amtrakgenesis8114]

The same year in November 1st, a train sped at a curve, which killed at least 93 people. I have a video on it. I was inspired by thunderbolts videos

[@Choochookid7470]

Love you used strasburg engines!

[@XBKLYN]

Four months later on November 1, over 100 people were killed in the NY subway train wreck at Malbone Street, thought to be the deadliest train wreck in US history.

[@trainfanjpt6056]

It’s ashamed that both steam locomotives were scraped even after they were rebuilt after the crash and next being retired and scrap.

[@kajaymajay8233]

I love that music.

[@WCWThunderRosa]

It’s almost like having a 10 mile section of single track is a terrible idea and no railway should do it

[@malachimuhammad-dy2ow]

I can't believe this 20th Century train wreck is just horrific.

[@MrTankThatStopped]

Train #1 sounds like the train that was supposed to go in a siding (mikani flyer) but crashed into another loco at the station

[@redrock717]

The ONLY preserved NC&STL steam engine is currently being restored to running conditions at the Tennessee central railroad museum in Nashville.

[@redrock717]

Same year and same railroad one of the N.C.&.STL.’s big Mallet pusher engines exploded while pushing a train out of Cowan, Tennessee. Instantly killing 2/3 crew members. It was said that the boiler went 150 feet in the air. The explosion was heard miles away.

[@RailfanDaniel1997]

Absolutely tragic.

[@kc0eks]

I'd love to see one on the eden train wreck near pueblo Colorado.

[@themaxsterlad2791]

Wow just wow

[@asinger1026]

Wow..this took place on my birthday.

[@PercyfanJamestheredcollector]

Love it

[@Ultimate23Dragon]

9:35 - "Have we seen the last 'Great Train Wreck of 1918'?... *I hope not."* !?...

[@jonimendes6779]

two engines crash head on and they stiçç repair them? damn thats some hard trains

[@gottsavezekaiser1918]

Hey man, I was thinking about doing my own wreck documentary about the Newark bay derailment of 1958 on September 15th. However, I am concerned since it is the same day in going to ride on the Joliet Rocket. It is very similar to the '93 wreck at big bayou canot.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Sure give credit to me for inspiring you

[@Idkjustgothere]

The locomotives should have preserved

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Agreed

[@skythehedgehog8987]

Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions but they were probably beyond repair

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Incorrect. If you watched the video the engines were pulled from the wreckage and rebuilt along with their sisters. They were all retired and scrapped in 1949 in favor of dieselization though. So they were damaged but somehow repairable. Look it up it's true.

[@MBTAMoreRailfan]

Roundhouse Warrior not much probably was left

[@Idkjustgothere]

@@MBTAMoreRailfan true

[@snipeblox8049]

This is very sad rip all those dead people

[@s_rv.]

You know its gonna be bad when it happened a while ago

[@teacherjennifer]

train falls off bridge "damaged beyond repair" train is reduced to a twisted smashed boiler "meh pull it out and glue it back together its fine"

[@ar88]

I wonder if there are people who are over 100 years old that are alive and saw this

[@jordanleoanrd890]

I like this type of history

[@kc6018]

Have you done a video on the wreck of the Red Arrow Express yet, cause that would be cool.

[@rickroll4058]

Funny thing! Those coaches are here were I live. They are part of the 'Soo Line'.

[@ICUNA22]

At 3:00 you state that the clear train order signal indicated "all clear". That is incorrect. The train order signal is used to notify crews that they must pick up new train orders (and clearance) before passing the station (which they had already done). Track occupancy is indicated by block signals (shown at 3:02). This distinction does not relieve the crew from occupying the track without authority, however, and the end result is the same.