Train - Accident - Pile up on the Anacostia River 1933
by Mike Savad
Title
Train - Accident - Pile up on the Anacostia River 1933
Artist
Mike Savad
Medium
Photograph - Colorized Photo
Description
Colorized photo from 1933 Aug 23rd
Original Title: Train Accident
Location: Anacostia Railroad bridge, Washington DC
On the afternoon of August 23 1933, a hurricane (later dubbed the Chesapeake and Potomac hurricane), caused a great deal of flooding. There were strong winds, heavy rain, a lot of the town was actually closed because of the flooding.
This is the Crescent Limited, a train that starts from New York, and has a destination to New Orleans. It has to pass through here to get there. But it seems they didn't know a lot about this storm and they were traveling quite fast. The bridge, unbeknownst to them was being washed out, the supports were damaged by years of water exposure. Being built in 1903, it was quite old. When the train ran over it, the bridge collapsed and the train went flying.
Amazingly there was little loss of life. The fireman was found buried in the mud, and the engineer which was found under the engine, they both died. Along with 20 prized turkey's. Which for some reason was also traveling with them. The ones that survived were donated to the survivors of the train.
Uploaded
December 12th, 2018
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