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. |
|
August 28, 1873 |
Muir, MI |
Detroit & Milwaukee |
4 |
|
|
September 17, 1873 |
West of Lowell, MI |
Detroit & Milwaukee |
2 |
|
|
July 18, 1874 |
Near Greenville, MI |
Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan |
6 |
Tree across tracks. Description. |
|
October 10, 1879 |
Jackson, MI |
Michigan Central |
18 |
Wreck of "Pacific Express". Description. |
|
Unknown date, 1887? |
Elmwood, MI, Iron County |
C&NW |
8-10 |
Description. Water tower falls on section crew. |
|
January 28, 1889 |
Elmwood, MI, Iron County |
C&NW |
2 |
Description. Derailment kills Lt. Governor. |
|
April 19, 1891 |
Kipton, OH |
LS&MS |
8 |
|
|
October 13, 1893 |
Jackson, MI |
Michigan Central |
14 |
Rear end collision, disregard of signal. Description. |
|
October 19, 1893 |
Nichols (Battle Creek), MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
28 |
Head on collision, disregarded orders. Description. |
|
August 15, 1900 |
Pierson, MI |
Grand Rapids & Indiana |
6 |
Caused by operator error. Description. |
|
November 27, 1901 |
Seneca, MI |
Wabash |
23 |
Head on. Error in reading orders. |
|
May 4, 1903 |
Detroit, MI (Canfield Ave.) |
GTW/LS&MS |
7 |
Rear end. Unscheduled train. Description. |
|
August 7, 1903 |
Durand, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
26 |
Wallace Bros. Circus Train. Rear end collision. Description. |
|
December 26, 1903 |
East Paris, MI |
Pere Marquette |
18 |
Head on. Failed to deliver orders. Description. |
|
1904 (date unknown) |
Elmdale, MI |
Pere Marquette |
5 |
Read end collision. |
|
July 20, 1907 |
Salem, MI |
Pere Marquette |
30 |
Worst in Michigan. Description. |
| 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. |
|
Dec. 7, 1909 |
On Lake Erie |
Pere Marquette |
|
Ship lost. |
|
1910 (date unknown) |
Holland, OH |
LS&MS |
1 |
Rear ended freight. |
|
September 9, 1910 |
Off Sheboygan, WI |
Pere Marquette |
30 |
Railroad Car Ferry sank. |
|
September 19, 1910 |
St. Joseph, MI |
Pere Marquette |
1 |
Derailment. |
|
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] |
|
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 train. |
|
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. Description. |
|
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 Bostn, 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 |
Petosky, 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] |
|
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] |
|
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 |
Pennford, 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) |
Description. 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 |