Train Wreck: Atlantic Coast Line, 1943

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Night of December 16/17, 1943. Atlantic Coast Line trains #91 & #8 collide at this point killing 72 passengers and injuring 187.

Southbound Train #91 (Westcoast Champion) was proceeding normally on its Richmond-Tampa run at an estimated 80 MPH when a rail shattered under the rearmost section of the train. The final three coaches separated from the rest of the train and partially fouled the parallel northbound track, remaining somewhat upright. The fireman was sent south down the tracks to flag the northbound train #8, expected shortly. However he failed to carry adequate signaling equipment.

Roughly 40 minutes later train #8 (northbound Miamian) arrived on the scene, failed to notice the efforts of #91's fireman, and struck the coaches fouling the track at nearly 80MPH. Most of train #8 derailed and suffered heavy damage. The second, third & fourth coaches of #8 were reported by some to have "telescoped."

ICC investigation found that the initial derailment (#91) was indeed caused by a broken rail. The collision between #91 and #8 was blamed on failure of the fireman of #91 to carry adequate signaling equipment in order to flag down #8 in time. Said fireman is reported to have committed suicide shortly after the ICC findings.

NOTE: This is still a quite active CSX mainline through the area. Do not trespass onto railroad property.

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