Wrecks and Wreck Outfits
Significant Railroad Wrecks and Railroad Car Ferry sinkings in or near Michigan...
| Date | Location | Railroad | Deaths & (Injuries) | Notes |
|
September 5, 1851 |
Near Adrian |
MS&NI |
1 |
|
|
September 7, 1851 |
Elkhart, Indiana |
MS&NI |
1 |
|
|
April 5, 1853 |
Grand Crossing, IL |
MCRR/LSMS |
21 |
|
|
June 28, 1859 |
Mishawaka, IN |
Michigan Southern |
41 |
Bridge out. Description. |
|
February 26, 1866 |
Denton, MI |
3 |
Boiler explosion. Description. |
|
|
August 28, 1873 |
Muir, MI |
Detroit & Milwaukee |
4 |
|
|
September 17, 1873 |
West of Lowell, MI |
Detroit & Milwaukee |
2 |
|
|
January 17, 1874 |
North of Munger, MI |
Detroit & Bay City |
1 |
Train hits track hand car. Description. |
|
July 18, 1874 |
Trufant station, Near Greenville |
Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan |
7 / 15 |
|
|
October 10, 1879 |
Jackson, MI |
Michigan Central |
18 |
|
|
May 8, 1885 |
Grosse Ile Bridge |
Canada Southern |
2 |
Hand car into open draw bridge. Description. |
|
September 23, 1886 |
South Lyon, MI |
Grand Trunk |
1/1 |
Vandals remove rail. Description. |
|
Unknown date, 1887? |
Elmwood, MI, Iron County |
C&NW |
8-10 |
Water tower falls on section crew. |
|
January 28, 1889 |
Elmwood, MI, Iron County |
C&NW |
2 |
Description. Derailment kills Lt. Governor. |
|
October 14, 1889 (~) |
Lansing, MI |
Lansing Transit Ry. |
3 |
Hoist beam on wrecker breaks, killing 3. |
|
April 19, 1891 |
Kipton, OH |
LS&MS |
8 |
|
|
October 13, 1893 |
Jackson, MI |
Michigan Central |
24/20 |
Rear end collision, disregard of signal. Description |
|
October 19, 1893 |
Nichols (Battle Creek), MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
28 |
|
|
Sept. 8, 1894 |
Pori, MI (near Ontonagon) |
Milwaukee Road |
1 (1) |
Forest fire derailed engine. |
|
July 8, 1897 |
South of Bay City |
Saginaw & Bay City Ry. (E) | 7 (3) | Interurban car ran off open drawbridge. Description. |
|
December 20, 1897 |
Wilderville. MI (E of Marshall) |
DT&M |
1 / 3 |
Head on. Disregard train orders. Description |
| February 19, 1900 | Ford River, MI (Narenta) | C&NW | 9 (12) | Passenger train hit from behind. (Description) |
| July 29, 1900 | Milwaukee Jct. (Detroit) | DGH&M | 1 (10) | Buffalo Bill rodeo train backs into engine. [DFP-1900-0729] |
|
August 15, 1900 |
Pierson, MI |
Grand Rapids & Indiana |
6 |
Caused by operator error. |
|
November 27, 1901 |
Seneca, MI |
Wabash |
23 |
Head on. Error in reading orders. |
|
April 23, 1903 |
Lenox, MI |
GT |
2 / 1 |
Open switch. Collided with freight train in yard. Description. |
|
May 4, 1903 |
Mayville, MI |
PM |
2 / 19 |
Collision. [MCR-1904] Description. |
|
May 4, 1903 |
Detroit, MI (Canfield Ave.) |
GTW/LS&MS |
7 |
Rear end. Unscheduled train. |
|
August 7, 1903 |
Durand, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
26 / 15 |
|
| September 13, 1903 | West Bay City | MC | 2 / 8 | Killed by dynamite explosion in car while switching. Description. |
|
December 26, 1903 |
East Paris, MI |
Pere Marquette |
18 |
|
|
1904 (Early, unknown) |
Detroit - Gratiot Avenue crossing |
DGH&M/DUR |
Multiple |
At grade crossing. [MCR-1904] |
|
1904 (date unknown) |
Elmdale, MI |
Pere Marquette |
5 |
Rear end collision. |
| May 20, 1904 | Gay, MI | Mineral Range | 1 | "Cornfield" meet. [DSSS=2022-Q1] |
|
October 25, 1905 |
Elmira, MI |
BCG&A |
2/8 |
New right of way collapsed, train fell on workers. [DFP-1905-1022] |
|
January 28, 1907 |
North Bay City, MI |
D&M/Interurban Wenona Beach Line |
1/1 |
Passenger train hits interurban. [DFP-01907-0129] |
|
April 12, 1907 |
Metz, MI |
D&M |
1/2 |
Passenger train collides with switch engine. [DFP-1907-0414] |
|
July 20, 1907 |
Salem, MI |
Pere Marquette |
30 |
Worst in Michigan.. |
|
Feb. 17, 1908 |
West Toledo, OH |
NYC/T&W |
8 |
Trolley strikes Big Four pass. train. |
|
1908 (date unknown) |
1 mile N/of Shultz |
CK&S |
2 |
Cornfield meet. Mix up of orders. |
|
September 14, 1908 |
Chesterton, IN |
LS&MS |
1 |
Rear end coll. at depot. Fog. |
|
October 12, 1908 |
Near Metz, MI |
Detroit & Mackinac |
17 |
Train derailed in middle of forest fire. |
|
October 5, 1909 |
Carpenters, MI |
2 |
Head on. See Note 7. |
|
|
1910 (date unknown) |
Holland, OH |
LS&MS |
1 |
Rear ended freight. |
| June 2, 1910 | Chase, MI (Lake Co.) | Pere Marquette |
1/1 | Derailed train hit by another. Link. |
|
September 9, 1910 |
Off Sheboygan, WI |
Pere Marquette |
30 |
Railroad Car Ferry sank. |
|
September 19, 1910 |
St. Joseph, MI |
Pere Marquette |
1 |
Derailment. |
| July 12, 1910 | Ortonille, MI | Interurbab | 1/62 | Car collides with work train. Link. |
|
January 17,1911 |
Grand Rapids, MI |
Brake failure |
1/1 |
Run away train. Desccription |
| July 3, 1911 | Mills Switch, MI | DUR | 1 (44) | Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 30, 1911 |
Dearborn |
DUR |
1 (20) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 7, 1911 |
Youngs Crossing, Detroit |
DUR |
2 (12) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 15, 1911 |
Volney Smith Crossing Detroit |
DUR |
1 (3) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 19, 1911 |
Rougemere Yard, MI |
Pere Marquette |
1 (8) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
April 15, 1912 |
Dexter, MI |
Detroit Jackson & Chicago Ry. |
2 (30) |
Head on between 2 interurban cars. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 2, 1913 |
3 Miles West of Delray, MI |
Wabash Ry. |
3 (0) |
Derailment, broken throw rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 16, 1913 |
New Haven, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (24) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 23, 1913 |
Republic, MI |
CM&StP ( MILW) |
1 |
Broken rail. See Note 6. |
|
March 10, 1913 |
Okemos, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 |
Derailment, loose tire on engine. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 6, 1913 |
Waterville, MI |
DUR |
2 (3) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 15, 1913 |
Francisco, MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (1) |
Unknown derailment. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 18, 1913 |
North Yard, Kalamazoo |
LS&MS |
2 (26) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 13, 1913 |
MAL Crossing, n/of Jackson MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (44) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 25, 1914 |
MAL Crossing, n/of Jackson MI |
Michigan Central |
3 (13) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 6, 1914 |
Foster's, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
3 (3) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 14, 1914 |
Michigan Center, MI |
Detroit Jackson & Chicago Ry. |
2 (15) |
Head on between 2 interurban cars. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
April 15, 1915 |
Detroit, MI |
Detroit Street Railway |
15/? |
Collided with a DT&I train at Jefferson Avenue. [NYT-1915-0415:1] |
|
April 27, 1916 |
Clarion, MI |
GR&I |
1 |
Derailment, Click Here. |
|
September 8, 1916 |
Rives Jct. MI |
Michigan Ry. (Interurban) |
2 (12) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 21, 1917 |
Waterloo, IN |
New York Central |
1 (19) |
Derailment of trains. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 9, 1917 |
St. Clair, MI |
Rapid Ry. (Interurban) |
4 (27) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 20, 1917 |
Melvin, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 (1) |
Derailment. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 4, 1917 |
Orchard Beach Crossing, Manistee |
M&NE and Manistee Interurban |
3 (20) |
Side collision at crossing. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
Augus 30, 1917 |
Britton, MI |
Wabash Ry. |
2 (0) |
Derailment. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 20, 1917 |
Riverside, MI (N/Benton Harbor) |
Pere Marquette |
1 (19) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 22, 1918 |
Ivanhoe, IN |
MCRR |
68 |
Circus train. |
|
July 20, 1918 |
Chelsea, MI |
Detroit, Jackson & Chicago Ry. |
15 (80) |
Head on, pass vs. freight. Interurban. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 23, 1918 |
Dexter, MI |
Michigan Central |
3 (2) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 25, 1919 |
Oakwood, MI |
DUR |
4 (44) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 26, 1919 |
2 Miles S/of Cadillac, MI |
Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry. |
2 (23) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 20, 1919 |
Beitner, 4 Miles s/Traverse City |
Pere Marquette |
6 (37) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 21, 1919 |
Francisco, MI |
DUR |
1 (2) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 5, 1920 |
Clarendon, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (6) |
Derailment, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 1, 1920 |
New Boston, MI |
PRR / Pere Marquette |
1 (3) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 24, 1920 |
Ortonville, MI |
DUR |
4 (12) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 23, 1921 |
Ashley, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (1) |
Derailment. Bad engine truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 27, 1921 |
Porter, IN |
MCRR / LSMS |
37 (20) |
|
|
May 7, 1921 |
Elkhart, IN Yard |
New York Central |
2 |
Collision in yard. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 18, 1921 |
Warsaw, MI (east of Ann Arbor) |
Detroit Jackson & Chicago Ry. |
5 (21) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 11, 1923 |
McDonald, MI |
Pere Marquette |
1 |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 13, 1923 |
Alexis, OH |
Pere Marquette |
2 (4) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 8, 1923 |
Vinewood Avenue, Detroit |
New York Central / MC |
1 (1) |
Collision on freight track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 12, 1923 |
Grayling, MI |
New York Central |
3 |
Side collision w/2nd train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 5, 1923 |
Durand, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
5 |
Derailment |
|
August 28, 1923 |
Edmore, near Marine City, MI |
DUR - Rapid Ry. |
1 (15) |
Head on at meeting point. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 25, 1924 |
Waterloo, IN |
New York Central |
1 (10) |
Rear ended. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 10, 1924 |
Kingsley, MI S/Traverse City |
Pennsylvania RR |
2 (0) |
Snow plow derailment. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 24, 1924 |
Botsford Yd, Kalamazoo |
Michigan Central |
1 |
|
|
December 3, 1924 |
Wyandotte, MI |
DUR |
5 (10) |
Collided with automobile. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 6, 1925 |
Bakertown, MI (Berrien County) |
Michigan Central |
1 |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 23, 1925 |
Oakwood, MI (Melvindale) |
Wabash Ry. |
2 (2) |
Head on collision, runaway. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
April 19, 1925 |
Sunny, MI (S/of Flint) |
DUR |
1 (16) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 29, 1925 |
Lake George, MI |
Ann Arbor Railroad |
1 |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 2, 1926 |
Monroe, MI |
Detroit Monroe & Toledo Short Line |
10 (36) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 7, 1926 |
Gibson, IN |
Michigan Central / NYC |
4 (1) |
RR motor car vs. train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 4, 1926 |
Goodison, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (36) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 18, 1927 |
Carpenter, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (3) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 11, 1928 |
Austin, MI (near Detroit?) |
DJ&C Ry. and DUR |
1 (25) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 8, 1928 |
Flushing, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 (16) |
Circus train derailed, bad track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 16, 1929 |
Fenwick, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 (1) |
Derailment, poor track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
April 16, 1929 |
Stanley, OH |
New York Central |
1 |
Collision in yard. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 14, 1929 |
Dowagiac, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (4) |
Train vs. truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 28, 1929 |
Glen Lord, MI S/Benton Harbor |
Pere Marquette,MI |
1 (1) |
Accident, bad switch. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 2, 1929 |
Ortonville, MI |
Eastern Michigan Ry. |
(61) |
Pass vs. freight. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 18, 1929 |
Morrice, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (1) |
Rear end. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 4, 1929 |
Pomona, MI |
Ann Arbor Railroad |
2 |
Wash out. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 27, 1930 |
Petoskey, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 (6) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 28, 1930 |
Between North Yard & Utica, MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (1) |
Derailment, switch. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 30, 1932 |
Plymouth, MI |
Pere Marquette |
0 (6) |
Side collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 3, 1937 |
Between Muir and Ionia, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (7) |
Pass train derailed, bad track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 18, 1939 |
McBain, MI |
Ann Arbor Railroad |
1 |
Train vs. Gasoline tanker truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 22, 1929 |
Lake Michigan |
Grand Trunk Western |
42 |
RR Car ferry sank. Worst. |
|
February 2, 1930 |
Ann Pere, MI |
Pere Marquette |
0 (3) |
Derailment, speeding train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 19, 1930 |
Toledo, OH W/ "K" Tower |
Toledo Terminal / PRR |
1 (1) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 28, 1930 |
Belsay, MI e/of Flint, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (12) |
Derailment, open switch. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 25, 1930 |
McGrew Jct, Flint, MI |
Pere Marquette |
1 |
Side collision in yard. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 7, 1931 |
Nichols Yard, Battle Creek, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 (8) |
Switch opened in front of train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 6, 1931 |
Town Line, Dearborn MI |
Michigan Central |
0 (3) |
Switch opened in front of train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 19, 1931 |
West Detroit, MI |
Michigan Central |
0 (40) |
Head on, pass & freight. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 25,1931 |
Edmore, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 (6) |
Derailment, speed on wye. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 27, 1932 |
Elkhart, IN |
NYC / Big Four |
0 (13) |
Rear end. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 28, 1933 |
Fenton, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (1) |
Head on w/switch engines. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 2, 1934 |
Iron Mountain, MI |
Milwaukee Road |
0 (6) |
Pass train derailed, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 10, 1934 |
Vermontville, MI |
Michigan Central |
5 (8) |
Train/automobile collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 3,, 1935 |
Riverdale, MI 4 Mi W/Elwell |
Pere Marquette |
0 (5) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 5, 1936 |
Wayne Jct. MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (5) |
Rear end in siding. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 9, 1936 |
Riga, MI |
New York Central |
1 (1) |
Train vs. Road grader. ICC Report [PDF] |
| July 18, 1936 | Dundee, MI | Ann Arbor | 9 | Car hit by train, pushed into Raisin River bridge. 2 famlies killed. |
|
September 30, 1936 |
Urania, MI |
Ann Arbor Railroad |
0 (13) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 3, 1937 |
Adrian, MI |
Wabash |
3 |
Locomotive exploded. [SEN-1937-0104] |
|
March 7, 1937 |
MichiganCity, IN |
Pere Marquette |
0 (5) |
Derailment, kinked track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 9, 1937 |
Lansing, MI at depot |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 |
Derailment, brake rigging. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 12, 1937 |
Vulcan, OH (N/Nasby Tower) |
TA&W / Toledo & IN Ry |
3 (9) |
Side collision at interlocking. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 17, 1937 |
Beech, MI |
Pere Marquette |
0 (34) |
Derailment, spread track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 13, 1938 |
4 miles N of Monroe, MI |
Michigan Central |
0 (14) |
Rear end collision, 2 pass. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 30, 1939 |
Michigamme, MI |
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic RR |
2 |
Derailment from landslide. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 2, 1939 |
Kalamazoo, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (2) |
Train vs. automobile. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 12, 1940 |
Bessemer, MI |
Chicago & Northwestern |
1 (5) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 22, 1941 |
Z Tower, Toledo, OH |
New York Central |
0 (30) |
Collision w/freight. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 7, 1941 |
Sault St. Marie |
Canadian Pacific? |
2 |
Bascule bridge collapse. |
|
January 13, 1942 |
2 miles S of Mullet Lake, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 |
Derailment, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 23, 1942 |
Green Oak, MI W/South Lyon |
Pere Marquette |
3 (23) |
Pass train hit automobile. ICC Report [PDF] |
| October 28, 1942 | Hamtramck, Caniff & GTW | Grand Trunk Western | 16 (27) | DSR bus struck by GTW passenger train. [DFP] |
|
October 30, 1942 |
Durand, MI (West of) |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (25) |
Pass train hit freight cars. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 19, 1943 |
Hughart, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (1) |
Derailed, stone on rails. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 16, 1944 |
Wyandotte, MI |
Detroit Toledo & Ironton |
1 |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 28, 1944 |
Sibley, MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (25) |
Train vs. car accident. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 30, 1945 |
Eaton Rapids, mI |
Michigan Central |
2 (6) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 7, 1945 |
Smith's Creek, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 (3) |
Read end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 22, 1946 |
Fort Custer Yard, MI |
Michigan Central |
3 (3) |
Head on in yard. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 2, 1947 |
Dean Yard, Midland, MI |
Pere Marquette |
0 (3) |
Rear end, in yard limits. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 18, 1948 |
6 Miles w/Of Battle Creek, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
3 (1) |
Derailment, broken journal. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 26, 1948 |
West Unity, OH |
NYC / Wabash |
1 (7) |
Side collision at interlocking. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 3, 1949 |
Rock, MI |
Chicago & Northwestern |
1 (15) |
Derailment, bad wheel. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 27, 1949 |
2 miles N of Richland Junction MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (1) |
Derailment, bad track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 26, 1950 |
4 Miles N/Elmira, MI |
Pennsylvania RR |
0 (14) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 26, 1950 |
Andersonville, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (9) |
Rear end, freight/pass. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 14, 1951 |
Penford, MI |
PRR / DT&I |
0 (3) |
Side collision at interlocking. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 15, 1951 |
Trenton, MI |
New York Central |
3 (17) |
Psgr derailment, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 28, 1951 |
Nottawa, MI |
Pennsylvania RR |
0 (6) |
Psgr derailment, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 14, 1951 |
L'Anse, MI |
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic RR |
2 (2) |
Derailment, out of control. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 3, 1952 |
1 mile W of Elkhart, IN |
New York Central |
2 (7) |
Broken wheel on motor car. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 29, 1952 |
East of Linden, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 (6) |
Head on between 2 freights. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 26, 1952 |
East of Burton, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (5) |
Passenger train too fast in turnout, derailed and hit 2nd pass. train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 3, 1952 |
Onota, MI |
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic RR |
1 (5) |
Motor car vs. train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 14, 1953 |
MAL Crossing, n/of Jackson, MI |
GTW / NYC |
1 |
Train vs. RR motor car. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 18, 1955 |
Newport, MI |
New York Central |
9 (3) |
Train vs. truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 16, 1957 |
1 mile W of White Pigeon, MI |
New York Central |
1 (32) |
Psgr train derailed, excess speed. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 10, 1967 |
Thompsonville, MI |
Chesapeake & Ohio |
4 (28) |
Train vs. truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 22, 1989 |
Freeland, MI |
CSX |
0 (15) |
Derail, hazmat, 1,000 evacuated. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 15, 2001 |
Andersonville, MI |
CN |
3 |
2 freights, 1 in siding |
Other Notable Disasters in Michigan
Date |
Location |
Railroad |
Problem |
| March 4, 1889 | Windsor, ON | Grand Trunk Western | Car ferry "Transit I" was destroyed by fire. |
| April 17, 1905 | Durand, MI | Grand Trunk Western | Depot nearly destroyed by fire. |
| November 12, 1906 | Detroit, MI | Michigan Central Railroad | Third Street Station burns. |
| May 29, 1909 | Manistique, MI | Ann Arbor Railroad | Car ferry #4 capsizes |
| March 8, 1910 | Manitowoc, MI | Ann Arbor Railroad | Car ferry #1 burns |
| February 1, 1968 | Michigan | New York Central System | Penn Central formed, declared bankrupt in June, 1970 |
Wreck Outfits
Railroads in history operated wreck "outfits", usually special trains which were kept in terminals under steam, ready to head out to derailments and other disasters. Crews for these trains were usually men selected from maintenance right-of-way crews and roundhouse crews. Each wrecking outfit contained a large powered derrick as its main tool. Sometimes, railroads borrowed wreck outfits from other railroads, if they didn't have their own close by wreck outfit or in large derailments requiring more than one crane. In addition to picking up and removing locomotives and railroad cars, the wreck outfit also built temporary tracks to open the road as quickly as possible. Flat cars on the wreck outfits brought new ties, rail, and tempoary wheelsets for cars that needed to return to the shops for repair.
| Railroad | Base Location | Notes |
| DT&I | Ford Rouge | Road wreck crew |
| LS&I | Marquette | |
| C&NW | Green Bay, WI - 150 ton | In 1958. Sent to Naults. |
| C&NW | Escanaba - 100 ton | As of 1953, likely earlier. |
| Michigan Central | Detroit - Livernois Yard | Tunnel wrecker - Note 1 |
| Michigan Central | Detroit - Livernois Yard | Road wreck crew. |
| Pere Marquette | Detroit | Road wreck crew 1907 |
| Pere Marquette | Grand Rapids | Road wreck crew 1907 |
| Pere Marquette | Saginaw yard | Road wreck crew 1907 |
| Soo Line | Gladstone | X-3. Preserved. |
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Note 1 - The Michigan Central maintained a special wreck crew for the Detroit-Windsor International railroad tunnel. The Industrial Brownhoist derrick could be operated by steam or third rail electricity in the tunnel and the approaches to the tunnel. This derrick remains operational and is located at Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford. Note 2. Lieutenant Governor James H. McDonald and two others were killed on the C&NW line near Elmwood, MI when the truck under the last car broke and derailed the car. While in motion, the car tipped on its side, then struck two different stumps tearing the car to pieces. McDonald, who was playing cards at the time, died instantly. He was brought back to his home in Escanaba for burial. [Livingston Argus, 1990-0124] Note 3. C&NW passenger train No. 21 known as the Felch Mountain accommodation, which runs between Metropolitan and Escanaba, was wrecked in a read-end collision at Ford River switch at 6:30 Thursday night. Nine persons were killed, three are missing, five seriously and four slightly injured. The dead included the baggageman, brakeman, and passengers. The Metropolitan train had stopped at the switch to take a passenger on. Owing to heavy snow or the dense smoke from charcoal kilns, about 100 feet from the track, the rear end of the train was enveloped in smoke and prevented the crew of the incoming freight, No. 289 (Green Bay to Ishpeming) which was running on special time orders, from seeing the red lights on the rear of the accommodation. With the exception of two people, the bodies of those killed were burned in the wreck. Injured were taken to the nearby Sears Brothers' store while train crews fought desperately, assisted by the uninjured passengers, to gain control of the fire which threatened the destruction of the wreck before all the injured could be removed. The scene at the wreck was an appalling one. Scores of people from surrounding towns drove to the scene to learn if any of their friends were on board the ill-fated train. [LAS=1900-0217][SJH-1900-0217] Note 4. MCRR. One of the most terrible railroad accidents that has ever occurred in the history of railroad fatalities took place here this morning, whereby twelve persons were killed and a good many more or less seriously injured. It was another of those awful rear-end collisions of which Michigan is getting its full share and which reflect so seriously upon the system of handling trains while there is a rush of traffic. An excursion train left Watertown, N.Y. in two sections. The first section reached Jackson at about 9 o'clock this morning and stood on the main track to give passengers bound for the White City on pleasure bent the opportunity to eat breakfast in the depot lunch-room. The male passengers made the customary rush for the counter while many ladies remained in the coaches, which accounts for the fact that more women were killed and injured than men. The second section came tearing through the yards and rushed into the stationary train. 'The fireman jumped, but the engineer, with death staring him in the face, stood his post when death seemed imminent. When the locomotive crashed into the first train, a series of cries that froze my blood filled the air. [DFP-1892-1014] Note 5. A disaster was averted but the engineer was killed. PM train No. 7 approached Grand Rapids Union Station when its brakes failed. The engineer through the reverse lever to try to slow down the train, which was travelling through the yards at 70 mph. Approaching Wealthy Avenue, the train jumped the tracks. The engineer and fireman jumped, killing the engineer and injuring the fireman. The 100 passengers on board were not injured. [SJDP-1911-0117] Note 6. CM&StP passenger train No. 2 derailed on a broken rail at 8 mph as it was approaching the depot at milepost 9.3 at Republic. All cars derailed except for the last Pullman car. The conductor was in the baggage car, probably preparing space for baggage to be loaded onboard at the Republic station, when he got crushed to death between a heavy safe that had moved when the car rolled to the side. He was the only person killed in the wreck. For more information, go to the Diamond Drill newspaper from March 1, 1913. Info from James Harlow: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/Icon/sn96076817/1913-03-01/ed-1/seq-1/ Note 7. Two trains collided head-on near Carpenters, MI. They intended to meet at Lapeer but one was operating slower than expected. Apparently the southbound freight train was not making the time, or the northbound freight was making better time, than was originally anticipated by the train dispatcher when he first fixed the meet between the two trains at Lapeer. With this being the situation, the train train dispatcher decided to move the meet between the two trains farther north to advance the northbound freight train against the southbound freight train. Both freight trains would have received a train order to change the meet -- at Lapeer or at a train order station farther south for the northbound train, and the southbound train at Otter Lake station or a station farther north, to "meet extra [eng no.] north at Carpenter instead of Lapeer". The change of meet order would have been issued in the exact same language to each train. For reasons unknown, the engineer of the southbound freight did not fulfill his changed train order instructions to meet the northward extra freight train at Carpenter instead of Lapeer, and as the northbound extra freight train arrived at Carpenter for the meet, the southbound extra freight train collided with the northbound extra freight train, killing both engineers. Carpenter station was 5.16 north of Lapeer. |
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