Memorial Day train wreck was not unusal during early 20th century

A train derailment near Grand Junction on Memorial Day weekend, 1920,

This photo shows a 1918 train wreck in Tennessee that is believed to be the deadliest in U.S. history, killing more than 170 people.

took the lives of the train's engineer and fireman. Such accidents weren't unusual in the early decades of the 20th century, but railroad safety was beginning to improve.

Below is a link to my history column in The Daily Sentinel.

Train wreck 5-23-26.pdf

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