Civil War Train Wreck

[HerbS]

We all saw the terrible train wreck on the news in Conn.this week.I have always remembered hearing about the Prison train wreck in Shohola,Pa.Two trains collided head-on.It was July- 15-1864.The trains were going 30-mph.One train was transporting 833 Confederate prisoners to Elmira,NY.72 prisoners and 17 guards died,one from Rochester,NY.The investigation showed that the dispatcher was drunk on the job!

[LincolnMan]

Never heard about that one Herb-what a terrible fate for those poor souls.

[RJNorton]

Herb, I found a photo of the marker:

[LincolnMan]

Nice to read the marker-and to learn that the Confederate survivors were treated.

[Rsmyth]

This is close to my home.you can hike to the exact spot on a blind curve. Many dead were buried alongside the tracks. Wounded were taken to different homes in the area. Two of those Confederate soldiers were buried in a church yard across the river in Barryville. The church is now a private residence but the owners allow a yearly memorial service.

[HerbS]

A true Historical disaster with a prison train on a curve.Tough to measure Civil War Disasters-Train Wreck or The Sultana! But,at least they didn't try to cover it up!Thanks for the photo Roger.

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Rsmyth-I wondered if you lived near there.Feel free to chime in here,you have to be the"go to guy" for more information!

[Linda Anderson]

I live near the Connecticut train wreck. It is a miracle that no one was killed although several people were critically injured.

"The train service from South Norwalk to New Haven is suspended today. Getting from the New Haven area to Stamford/New York by car is a nightmare when the trains are running. "Jim Cameron, chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council, is predicting "carmageddon" on Interstate 95 Monday morning as regular commuters from the New Haven Line beyond South Norwalk look to make their way to work."

Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/art...z2TkXLLP2y

[Rsmyth]

Today it is a very lonely but peaceful spot at a rock cut with forest on one side and the Delaware River on the other. There is no hint of the disaster that occurred 150 years ago.

[Hess1865]

I've rode Metro-North many times over the years when I lived in CT.
Its surprising that there haven't been more accidents on that line.