Ashtabula Train Disaster Location

History

History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.

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The Pacific Express, No. 5 of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, was carrying 159 passengers and staff members as it traveled westward across the rails toward the Ashtabula Bridge on the 29th of December, 1876. The weight of the train and the freezing conditions placed an excessive amount of stress on the poorly constructed structure. The collapse of the bridge occurred just as the lead engine was about to cross the west bank, causing the remaining portion of the train to fall into the river and the bank below this point. The river was frozen, and the fall was seventy feet in height. Some railcars collided with other railcars as they plummeted, while other vehicles were instantly crushed by cars that landed on top of them shortly after they fell. When the train reached the bottom, the oil lamps and coal heating stoves that were contained within the railcars caught fire, causing the railcars to burn to the ground. Sixty-four of the 159 passengers and staff members who were on board the Pacific Express No. 5 sustained injuries, and 98 of them lost their lives. It was unable to identify forty-eight of the people who passed away.

Added by: sdonley on 06/05/2025 DB#:747
Source(s):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtabula_River_rail...

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Visiting the Disaster Location

It is possible to park your vehicle at the trailhead entrance to Indian Trails Park to view the location where the accident occurred. As soon as you have parked, make sure you look at the sign that provides information on the event. After parking, you will need to walk a short distance of a quarter of a mile along the path that leads back to the accident site, which is located beneath a more recent arch railroad bridge still in operation over the area where the disaster occurred. You can still locate old sandstone and wood pilings that were a part of the bridge's original arches if you walk under the bridge. The bridge relied on these original arches for support.

Added by: sdonley on 06/05/2025 DB#:748
Source(s):
sdonley

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