'The Gulch' - Site of the 1921 Bryn Athyn Train Wreck (Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania)

USA / Pennsylvania / Bryn Athyn / Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
 place with historical importance, disaster site, stone/rock feature

Now known infamously as "The Gulch," this sharp bend on the former Reading Newtown Branch was the site of one of the most deadly train wrecks in history; and because of it, the use of wood frames and gas lamps in passenger cars was banned.

On a cold December 5th in 1921, local #151 from Philadelphia was given an order by the Stationmaster at Huntingdon Valley to pull over onto the siding at Bryn Athyn, on Fetter's Mill Road to the south of this polygon, to wait for the morning milk train and express #156 from Newtown. However, the engineer and conductor of #151 misread the orders and proceeded northbound after only the milk train had passed, unable to see the red signal due to the heavy snowfall.

Meanwhile, Russel Clayton, the Stationmaster at Bryn Athyn, was in his office going about his buisness when he recieved a telephone call from Huntingdon Valley checking to make sure #151 was on the siding and out of the way for the express. He replied that #151 had just left the siding and did not know that there was an express (#156 was an extra train not usually scheduled that day of the week) . Realizing the severity of the situation, he frantically telephoned Woodmont Station on Byberry Road to tell them to hold the express. They told him that the express had passed the station and was en-route to Fox Chase. Unable to stop the trains' fate, he notified the local authorities of of the coming tragedy.

According to surviving passengers' reports both trains were travelling at speed limit of 35mph when they crashed in this narrow rocky gulch. Because they met in a curve, neither train could see the other until it was too late. The two cameback 4-4-0 steam engines met at such an angle and speed that both engines were turned upside down on top of their tenders. The live fires in each engine combined with hot coals from heating stoves in the passenger cars quickly ignited a blaze that engulfed both trains. Due to the isolated location, it was extremely emergency personnel to access the scene of the accident and provide aid.
The wreck made the cover of the New York Times and cost the Reading over $200,000 dollars and the lives of over 27 people. The crew of #151 was held responsible for the wreck and were forced to give up their jobs. The Reading never again had another wreck like this, and to this day IT remains one of the worst wrecks to ever occur on the East Coast
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   40°8'54"N   75°4'36"W

Comments

  • I seriously doubt they were going 65 mph. I would more likely believe they were going approximately 35 mph based on other reports of the incident.
  • All accounts say they were traveling about 35mph, my g-grandfather was the wreck master for Reading Co, probably one of the first called to the scene. My father saw the wreckage the day after, both said it was horrific. Emergency personnel could not get there easily because the creek was between the rails & the road. now a walking trail, needs a marker!! Very eerie walk.
  • My husbands Aunt was on that train
  • There is now a memorial set up at the scene but only recently have I noticed it being displayed.
This article was last modified 5 years ago