On This Day in 1918

Great Train Wreck of 1918

The Great Train Wreck of 1918 occurred on July 9, 1918, in Nashville, Tennessee. It is considered the worst rail accident in United States history. Shortly after 7:20 a.m. the two wooden car passenger trains, operated by the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway, collided head-on, costing at least 101 lives and injuring an additional 171.

This wreck provided the impetus for most railroads to switch to all-steel passenger cars versus wood and steel.