The Wreck of the Transcontinental 78 years later

[@ottomatic6432]

I am honored to have been able to help make this documentary possible. Thank you so much for making this documentary a reality. It'll be one I will always remember, considering I've been studying it for 3 years. I can't wait to see what I'll help you with in the future.

[@starchedownon84s]

You killed with your contribution, (no pun intended).

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Indeed. Thanks again!

[@SWExplore]

Ottomatic and Thunderbolt! What a Union along the Pacific corridor...who knows where the two of you will end up...

[@Roseweb2point0]

Great film

[@allenhenry5240]

K​@@SWExplore

[@brandomgamingandtraining777]

Well, well, well. Yet another documentary created by Thunderbolt about a wreck that I don’t know about. This isn’t the first time that this has happened to me, but I’m glad it’s happened again. This video looks amazing just from the teaser alone. I have been waiting to see more videos with Ottomatic and his Train Simulator re-enactments, he always does a great job! I’m truly excited to learn about a new train wreck, and I’m also glad that we’re getting another one. Can’t wait to see this documentary tomorrow, and will try my best to make it to the premiere!

[@JacobFerch]

Yes I'm so glad he posted again

[@ThomastheE2]

What was the first time

[@marcocampos2332]

Exactly combining it all in a video just makes it special

[@brandomgamingandtraining777]

@@ThomastheE2To be honest, before i really started getting into trains, most of his early videos were learning experiences for me. The first one was probably Big Bayou Canot. I will be forever grateful for the knowledge and memories Thunderbolt has given me throughout the years.

[@hughmungas5462]

It’s weird that I know about the wrecks he talks about. I just don’t know all the small details so it’s always fun looking back on them and getting some new perspective on the incidents.

[@SharkyCartelRailroad]

This reminds me a lot of the Amagasaki derailment in Japan. Breaking the speed limit to make up for lost time on a schedule. RIP to all the victims

[@Gregory_ferrandis]

Fancy seeing you here my fellow furry

[@SharkyCartelRailroad]

@@Gregory_ferrandis Railfan community has an infestation of us lol

[@Gregory_ferrandis]

@@SharkyCartelRailroad fr and I’m one of em

[@jamesm6638]

In the steam days it was expected and even encouraged that if you were behind, the speed limit became kind of a suggestion. It was just a normal everyday occurrence.

[@SharkyCartelRailroad]

@@jamesm6638 wack

[@levidarling5107]

Despite how bad the crash was, the fact that only six people passed is kind of a blessing since the crash looked a lot more deadly.

[@Frosted_Moontips]

7:30 Dudeee the way you framed the crash is pure cinema; the music hitting a crescendo as the train pops into view from behind the valley, then said train slowly leaning to one side as it races over the curve, the camera perfectly still nearly all the way thru... Absolute peak my guy X3

[@fenrir6856]

I’ve been trying to find the music used!

[@MynameisDUmass]

Crazy

[@bluerazor7049]

I'll say this, with how devastating the wreck looked like, it's a miracle that more people didn't perish...

[@tprescott]

Speaking as a retired locomotive engineer who used that style of brake stand, if that photo of the brake stand is from the wreck investigation, the Independent Brake for the locomotive, the smaller of the two brake valves, is in full release but the Automatic Brake Valve, which sets up the brakes on the cars is in the LAP position which means he had set his brakes. If the brakes were both in full release that lever should be in the RUN position and pointing in the same direction as the valve handle above it. So, judging from this photo, he either made a brake reduction to try to slow down for the curve and it was too little too late or he began to make an application of his brakes when he felt something wrong with the motion of the locomotive.

[@geronimo5537]

Truly a shame someone with experience did not also mention such during his trial. Where it would show he was operating the train. Instead of recklessly operating it with no regard. In my experience most accidents of passenger trains happen because of a company's tight tolerances to time and punishment for going outside of it even for operational delays. Given such circumstances its not surprising such accidents even happen today for the same reasons. Personally I find it difficult to fault someone when no speedometer is present in the vehicle. After a certain point speed all looks the same with objects passing by. Should the engineer have pushed those limits? Probably not. Would an employee already in recent hot water want to be found failing again just a couple weeks later? Probably not either.

[@61rampy65]

I'm so very impressed with the graphics! The quality of graphics and presentation are much better than when I first found this channel a few years ago- and the graphics and presentation were very good back then! Thanks for the information and the entertainment!

[@KaijuForceNeo]

This will be Interesting; The same route that claimed the Golden Spike in Utah!

[@mpowell4030]

I never knew one of 844's sisters was in a wreck! Amazing job! I look forward to your next documentary!

[@stephenh5166]

Been watching these for several years now, I must say this is your best yet, writing, pacing, music, narration, were all top notch!

[@TimberWolfer63]

A good idea for a future video is the January 23rd, 1956 wreck of the N&W 611 when it derailed pulling the Pocahontas train near Cedar, West Virginia. The cause was similar to this one. For better details I'd go History in the Dark and watch his video of N&W 611, at least that's how I know about that wreck. Fun fact, the wreck also shares my birthday, January 23rd

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

Ah yes, the Tug River Wreck, with the only known fatality being the engineer.

[@davidstrawn9272]

Yes, Please! I would love to see your video of 611's derailment in the future!

[@JesterBandito]

Wow that visual of the crash with the speed and watching it jump the track with the POV views, and the added narration was incredible. Took my breath away, this. Never heard about this before!

[@jpridie]

I remember steam trains in the UK where I grew up and the Cornish Riviera passed my school every day. I love these videos, thank you 🇨🇦 Alberta

[@BnuuyBoi2005]

I never knew anything about this. I moved to Victorville, CA last year and I have railfan there, even Oro Grande, CA. I enjoy watching this documentary video. You and Auto did a very good job 👏

[@spyfan62591]

One of 844s sisters wrecked?! didn't know that.

[@grandcrappy]

There was oh so much death on the rails in our great-grandparents' time. Between 1890 & 1917, over 230k dead and one million injured. That's like f'ing war stats yo.

[@RooneyMac]

​@@grandcrappycompared to car wrecks that nobody learns from, I'll take rail transit that we have learned from

[@coldblue9mm]

I have photo's I took when the UP 844 was the UP 8444.

[@spyfan62591]

@@RooneyMac well said.

[@Hotmess.com5]

Same here

[@NorthwestDaylight]

Correction: 844 was last reported in storage, but Ed insists she’ll be back in steam soon

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

It was down for a 1472 last I remembered.

[@TheSudrianTerrier653]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Sirenidk, it’s last 1472 was completed in 2016, and I’m pretty sure an American engine can run for about 15 years before needing an overhaul

[@SouthernRailwayProductio-rw8wb]

Well Actually After The Golden Spike 150th Anniversary Back In 2019 844 Has Been In Storage Serviceable And Would Need Positive Train Control (PTC) Fitted

[@tyrikuntamed4206]

Another great video by Thunderbolt. It's definitely a plus because the FEF 4-8-4 locomotives are my favorite steam locomotives

[@XavierTelevision-]

Wow, this wreck seems very preventable, and also very upsetting. The way this could have been prevented was if the engineer slowed down at least by breaking to 45 mph around 2 or 1 and a half miles before grade 28. This wreck in my opinion makes it sad and questioning. But this was a awesome video Thunderbolt. -XTV

[@ResoluteHedgehog09]

Glad to see another documentary! I've never heard of this incident, but that's a good thing, it means that with each new documentary you post, many of us learn new things.

[@markfitzurka9995]

This is a well done piece of media. I appreciate your work and gave you a like comment and hit the subscribe button. Thanks for not sending your script through a AI or bot. I noticed lots of content like this are starting to use it more and more. First sign of that I am gone. Don’t let the computers take your job.

[@westinbridges7321]

I really like how you jump straight into the action of the story, and I really hope that this continues to become a trend in later documentaries.

[@JohnnyX7-m3m]

This was a great presentation! If Parker could judge train speed by the seat of his pants, then he must’ve been flying by the seat of his pants! As a sidenote, I worked for the Pennsylvania RR a long time ago for several years. I remember the old timers telling us when pea gravel was used as ballast the tracks were clean and the mainline was rated for 90 mph. Then some wise-ass whose relatives owned a quarry convinced the company to use large chunk stone instead but it gradually broke down into a very stiff muddy composition that made the ties looser so speeds were greatly reduced for that reason. It was hard to get that stuff out from between the ties with picks and shovels-I know that for a fact!

[@KnapfordMaster98]

-throttle on the ceiling -brakes off, line fully pressurized -comes off on curve “idk man it wasn’t me” like what lol

[@SteamCrane]

Mechanical controls, don't need a black box.

[@elirosen1391]

Being a railwayman must have been contentious way back then, to be penalized and fines for delays that would be mostly out of your control. It seems like the pinnacle of thankless tasks, and it really tells a lot about why some took the risks that they did even if it meant tanking their reputation and career.

[@edwinsinclair9853]

It has always been said that railroad rules were written in blood. Enginemen were encouraged to make up time. Late trains were not appreciated by management.

[@sturmovik1274]

1947 was mostly after that era had ended on major railroads. I suspect he was motivated more by his personal pride in maintaining an on-time record.

[@davidseward7857]

"One hand on the throttle and the other on the horn" My Grandfather worked for the Wabash RR in Indiana as a machinist in the Round-house.

[@sturmovik1274]

@@davidseward7857 Casey Jones lyrics?

[@unclej2763]

Looking forward to this as with all these documentaries. I just find them very interesting.

[@RobertJarecki]

This isn't related to the crash, but IIRC, Harry Truman's daughter, Margaret, accompanied him on the campaign mentioned in the video. In one of her books, Margaret Truman recounts that she and President Truman were sitting in a car with a speedometer. The President called Margaret's attention to the speedometer which read over 90 mph. President Truman then asked Margaret to let the conductor know that neither he nor she needed to get to their destination that quickly.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Seems 835 couldn't escape being a speed demon

[@uprailroadkidthomas]

Never more thankful for these!

[@jsa-z1722]

It wasn’t all the drivers fault. It was the company culture, that punished lateness despite that lateness being not the drivers fault.

[@BV2_yt-2]

THE DOCUMENT GOD OF TRAIN WRECKS IS BACK🔥🔥🔥🔥🗣🗣🗣🗣

[@TheSonOfGoku.]

For what it could've been, 6 is a low death count, but a death count none the less

[@brianjudkins8812]

Great video. I saw the 844 in Ogden in 2019 when it came for the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and I've seen the 833 there.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Nice. Been to Ogden myself and saw the 833. So impressive to see up close

[@Percy-the-green-engine-6]

17:17 fun fact: i actually live in Council Bluffs, iowa, and i see it while passing over the bridge near it every day

[@noahlee4375]

First is the wreck of Big boy 4005 and now is the wreck of engine 835 transcontinental, the wreck that I never heard of, but I’m looking forward to this, also Thunderbolt 1000t Siren Productions I’m sorry that your life is been a huge depression, believe me I would know :(

[@stevewhalen6973]

19:55 We had a Thunderbolt 1000 non sound chopper type, civil defense siren near where I grew up in Tucson AZ. In the 1960s -70s that thing would go off every Saturday at noon . It could easily be heard 3 miles away. One Saturday I stood next to it at noon. At a few minutes after 12 noon I heard a compressor come on and observed the horn shaped siren atop a high pole begin spinning. The sound volume was incredible and I plugged my ears. As the sirens oscillating pitch reached its low note , I could feel the sound waves vibrating my chest like a drum plate as well as the ground beneath my feet. What a beast that big siren was!

[@RobertEHunt-dv9sq]

Excellent video. Thanks for taking the time to create and post. I have 844 upstairs in HO, a very nice looking loco. Cheers

[@stevewhalen6973]

Thanks!

[@vicnis625]

Hell yeah thunderbolt uploaded again!

[@MrWombatty]

Excellent presentation that's well researched & narrated! Superb animations, along with historic photographs, sets a high standard for other documentary creators!

[@infinitum432]

As always, absolutely brilliant video! Many thanks!

[@1snoopy011]

Great Job and super interesting. Good job with retelling the story with the graphics.

[@Zeromyhero-o6o]

Another great documentary every time you post one I can’t wait to watch it. Thanks again hoping things get better for you in your personal life.

[@davidsmith3725]

Thanks

[@Dylan2manyprojectshill]

Really great video, the simulation was really cool mixed with the actual photos set it off! Thanks for sharing!

[@tractorjunkco9431]

Loved that ending tune with this interesting video. Awesome job! Im really looking forward towards your next documentary!

[@joanlopezserrano6789]

Request (optional): Buenos Aires Train crash 2012, and Chicago EL train crash. PS. Great documentary

[@Waynegilchrist-r2h]

Well done documentation. It's a "Casey Jones/Wreck of 'Old 97'" tragedy where a brave engineer tried to make up time that seldom works out well. It seems like it takes a sad tragedy to initiate much needed safety regulations. I have always loved the Steamers and my generation is the last to experience seeing them in operation. Thank you for sharing and I actually remember this fateful Wreck as a young kid, even though the details have been long faded from my memory. It was one of those events that somehow struck a chord much like the death of 29 year old Hank Williams, the assassination of JFK, the panic of Sputnik, and the 1969 Moon Landing.

[@spencercorby4571]

Outstanding doc thunderbolt, as always. I have a wreck that actually happened near me a few years ago, in Le Claire, IA. Could be a good video idea if you want, no pressure.

[@KendallTNRailfans15]

Well I have to say, this was a good video there, great work Thunderbolt 1000t Siren Productions!

[@Strong_canadian9854]

Well well well gussed who returned

[@canucksfan2024]

Great job about a derailment I never heard of!!

[@naw611rules6]

Good to see another train documentary I plan to do something tomorrow for the wreck of old 97

[@yrunaked4]

I had not heard of this wreck, excellent video. Amazing that the death toll was as low as it was for such a high speed derailment, also hard to imagine all the crew in the locomotive survived. If you are looking for more disasters to cover, I have 2 for ya, that seem to be forgotten about mostly on youtube. The Santa fe Fast mail, September 5, 1956 - near Robinson, New Mexico, United States: Two Santa Fe express passenger trains collide when a railroad worker prematurely throws a switch … and the next one is Effingham Illinois around 12/22/95. Three Conrail trains wrecked in a big derailment. a train rear ended another train stopped in front of it and a third train came along and hit the derailed cars.

[@FinnishLapphund]

I'm sorry to hear that people died, but I really enjoy watching your well-made train accident videos.

[@larryjohnson6385]

Thanks for sharing this with us 🙏😎

[@LeonelloBuenger]

Your back great to see you back I hope you feel better soon

[@edwinsinclair9853]

The Jan. 1956 wreck of the Santa Fe's San Diegan at Redondo Jct. in Los Angeles would also make an interesting story.

[@Snapsash]

I gotta say this is one of the best ones you have made keep it up!👍

[@MrSEANDEERE]

Jesus Something that big and that heavy barreling off the tracks at 90mph is HORRFIYING. I have a model of 836, 835's direct sibling in HO and even a 1/87th scale model derailing at scale speed is scary! Great video!

[@raydunakin]

Can you imagine what it must have been like when Big Boy 4005 wrecked in 1953?!

[@westaussie965]

Jesus? Why you telling Him? Don’t forget allah and buddha 😉

[@corneliusadeola7261]

Great Documentary as always. I hope you have more planned for this year. I also put some suggestion ones on discord.

[@your-local-trainfan]

Ah, a Grayhound livery, my favorite livery from the Union Pacific. Such a shame to see one wreck.

[@Kkmssjdjdk_offical]

Yep I quite literally never knew an fef-3 crashed im still wondering about the challanger though...

[@Kkmssjdjdk_offical]

@@Matts_Conrail_Chicago_Mainline 3 accidents related to the simple articulated welp never knew those Either

[@Ryan_4023]

It’s quite something to have a more obscure incident get some light on them. RIP 835.

[@siltstridersftw]

I never knew about this wreck but thanks to you and Ottomatic, I now know about it. Thanks!

[@anb3rlyn]

So all common sense went out the window because you'll arrive late- Wow, still wasn't on time. I do enjoy your channel😍👍

[@cole5282]

17:21 That’s the Locomotive I saw in person. Glad you mentioned about it being a sibling too lol.

[@jiggermast]

A fascinating documentary about an accident I didn't know of and cool graphics too, thanks, for making it.,

[@wasatchrangerailway6921]

You've got a good understanding of things there young man!

[@Challenger3985Productions]

Good documentary your videos always bring a smile to my face and I love learning about train wrecks

[@Steamer96]

The good old days before Los Angeles became a craphole. Also love Smokebox's FEF.

[@TobyPasman]

10:20 “All traffic halted!”

[@frostlord1246]

Hey Thunderbolt, great work on this video. I know things have been rough for you lately, but I hope things get better for you soon.

[@jonjonscoolthings9296]

I can’t believe that the music used for the trailer was a theme from short circuit when Johnny five tried to escape the military that is genius

[@jonelyackett]

Seems that the engineer dumped the air for the first turn, then the air didnt have time to release and recover fully. So no air to use for braking on the second, hence why it was left in full release, not lap.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Very likely

[@7wingsaseagles89]

I have an uncle who worked for the Pennsylvania railroad and was an engineer and drove the famous GG1 locomotive. It was not uncommon for the line that he ran to run over 100 mph. It just started to get a little tricky because of the Pantograph exceeding 120 mi an hour could cause the Pantograph to lose connection with the electrical line causing a serious electrical Arc that could damage the Pantograph.

[@hahaha9076]

Great channel. Good on you guys.

[@theisononthecake63]

Damn 😮 that wreck must've been absolutely catastrophic in person 😳

[@F40M07]

2:09 that’s Barstow!!! 😂

[@Thenumbersthatareodd]

Loved this story!

[@robertgift]

Excellent portrayals! Thank you, FS1003.

[@canucksfan2024]

Lesson of the day... Never speed to make up lost time... Parker was restless

[@sergeant5848]

Even reckless....

[@DouggieFresh50]

Well 833 I saw that engine tons and I live in Utah so I’m glad you featured it and I saw it when I saw bigboy

[@raymondsheets5583]

Sorry I missed the premiere. Had band practice😅. Anyway, I had no idea this wreck happened until I watched Ottomatic's little recreation on this wreck. Honestly though, 835 could have been preserved like 4005 when she had her accident. Sadly she didn't😢. Great documentary by the way!😊

[@edwinsinclair9853]

Great graphics here. Only detail I noticed is that the 835 would have carried the train number in its number boards at that time, not the locomotive number. Otherwise quite accurate.

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

I’m impressive as always! Now you should do the 1945 Michigan Train wreck

[@ritchiesiepman5511]

Can you make a documentary about the Harmelen Train Wreck of 1962. Because on january 8th 2025, it marks 63 years since that accident took place. It was the worst train wreck in the history of Dutch Railways

[@ASPEST2017]

Great job on this !!!!

[@jlcii]

Ask someone who is currently lives in San bernardino, and regularly goes up to victorville and has clear views of the real and trains that run up and down the cajon pass, this video is very awesome and interesting to watch. It does seem like there was a good handful of accidents on this segment of rail that runs between the high desert down to Colton in San Bernardino county.

[@moonnoir_2552]

Great video as always! You should do a video about the Saltillo train wreck from 1972 (or Trenazo de Saltillo) which ocurred here in Mexico.

[@mikecrean8849]

Great animations and great story. Well done. 🙋‍♂️👏👏🇬🇧

[@evanclarke5561]

Can you make a video about the 1949 incident at Redesdale, near Bendigo in Australia? A K Class steam locomotive caused the turntable there to snap under its weight

[@Abandonedchannel21]

Hope things get better for you thunderbolt biggest fan

[@GunRunner3]

I've loved trains all my 80 year life. I grew up in a little town in Western PA, named Oil City which had a fully equipped RR repair shop, turntable, etc. One of the major events in the history of Oil City, was the great train wreck of August, 1882 which killed 11 men. That stretch of railroad was subsequently abandoned forcing the coal mines it served, to find other means. Of the 11 who perished, was David Morgan, my grandfather who was the conductor on that train. Have you ever heard of this disaster?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

No I haven't. I happen to live on the opposite side of you though in Eastern PA near the former PRR "main line" where the GG1s use to roam.

[@joekugelman4196]

Another fantastic video…. Love your work! Can’t wait for the next one, take care!!!!

[@csxtrainfan319]

Another Document from Thunderbolt that I might not be able to watch because of Hurricane Helene

[@61rampy65]

Hopefully, you made it thru ok.

[@csxtrainfan319]

I did

[@Brick69mm]

Looks good!

[@MynameisDUmass]

Great video, condolences for the ones that perished 😢

[@jarrodprieto5841]

1:15 Those blueprint designs, where'd you find them?

[@purplerunner1715]

One thing time will ever be able to outrun is simple physics, please remember that when your behind the stick, wheel or what ever you operate. Rater be a little late then never. Stay safe out there, plenty of other things that can kill us, travel don't need to be one of them.

[@USaviationyt]

Hey can you do the la grange illinois train derailment 1977 because there’s not a lot of videos about this crazy crash