The Wreck at Exeter, NH — January 11, 1966

Just before 6 p.m. on January 11, 1966, an eastbound freight train on the Boston & Maine's Western Route derailed at Exeter, New Hampshire. This is the story of one of the B&M's better-known incidents during the 1960s.

[misryluvsco]

I’ll never forget that day. My wife and I were married 3 days before the wreck. We were holed up in our 2nd floor apartment, no money for a honeymoon. I was on winter layoff from my construction job. Word traveled fast, and I ran down to the station. I ended up getting almost 2 weeks off work out it, helping to clean things up.

[cadenh]

As a native Exeter resident and lifelong railfan, I knew that Exeter did have some rail spurs (one is even still partially intact today), but I had no idea until now that it had a multi tracked main and a small rail yard to boot. Incredible.

[jasonwheels]

I’ve lived less than 10 minutes from that station my entire life and I never knew there was more than 1 track running through Exeter

[michaelmunroe]

I was there. Graduated from EHS in 1964. Live in Arizona now. This article brings back lots of memories!

[jamesstuart]

Awesome! Lucky someone thought to record and photograph the whole affair

[daybird]

My grandfather worked for the B&M Railroad in Concord NH for many years. I was 14 years old and living in Winchester NH when this happened.

[ericdee]

Awesome video and story. I'am a railway Engineer, ive seen a few major events in my career, interesting story. ✌️

[jimdandy]

You are a good storyteller, good work.

[petermantegani]

Joe Mantegani (not Mantegana) was my grandfather. He went to visit my grandmother at the hospital because she worked there as a nurse, not because she was a nurse. I grew up in this neighborhood a decade after this accident. I've never seen most of these images. Incredible.

[NorthmassRails]

This is especially interesting for me because my father grew up in Exeter, and I myself have quite a few memories of the town. Being a fan of the Boston and Maine, this is both interesting and cool to see what Exeters railway used to look like.

[rickcowan]

Thankis for this superb mini-documentary. Well researched, written and edited!

[bj]

Excellent video sir! Enjoyed it all the way!

[amtrakatsfnyc]

This is a very meaningful and informative video. Thank you for the education.

[timslager]

Thanks for sharing this video. We had a camp in Sandown and I always looked for trains on the ride when we went over the Rt 125 bridge in Westville

[SMichaelDeHart]

Loved your background music selections!! Great choices. Couldn't find the last one tho. Is it new??
Good video, really enjoyed. See those old Geep's brought back a lot of old memories of my EARLY railfanning days in the late 60"s early 70'svin southern West Virginia Coal Roads. Kanawha, Horse Creek and Pocahontas Divisions.

Ps...found it...The 126's not Nat Keefe

[Sam_Green____]

They had a big pile up in my local town in the 60s, the vans on the train were full of Fish . Fish were everywhere . All over the station, all over the tracks, all over the road at the crossing ! Everwhere was knee deep in Fish ! Then the locals turned up to help clear up the mess !! They said in that town the smell of Frish frying/baking every morning and evening was none stop for about 4 weeks after !!!!

[ericzerkle]

Reminds me of a wreck in my town on the NYC water level route in 1956. It literally took the ticket window off the depot and almost took down the tower.

[jseaton]

My grandfather, norm petit lived in Exeter and worked for B&M. I remember him telling me about working on this

[danielhutchinson]

We got off a train there a few years ago.
It seemed like a lovely Station.

[brucewhite]

I was 17 years old I was standing out side of Jerry's when that happened. I went back in and told them what happened. Arthur st Jean was working the counter in the store.