On the Edge of Disaster: Vintage Train Wrecks in Stunning Detail

Explore the Dark Side of Rail History!

Today we uncover a chapter of history rarely seen—the vintage train crashes of the early 1900s.

The turn of the 20th century was an era when steam locomotives ruled the rails, connecting distant lands and communities. However, with this incredible power came unimaginable risks. Join us as we unveil a collection of rarely-seen photographs that capture the chaos and devastation of train disasters from this bygone era.

Our video features a mesmerizing montage of vintage photographs that depict train crashes from the past. Each image tells a unique and haunting story of tragedy and human resilience. Many of these images have been carefully colorized to add an extra element of reality to these historic scenes

Don't miss out on this captivating visual journey into the heart of vintage train disasters. Click the link below to watch the full video and immerse yourself in a time when steel behemoths ruled the tracks, and the unexpected was always just around the bend.

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#trainwreck #historicalphotos #disaster

[mistermuso]

Let's be honest, none of us searched for this but we all found it strangely riveting

[roleplayingpain]

You aren't just witnessing train wrecks here. You are witnessing freedom. Note how the people went where they wanted and nobody stopped them.

[skadill]

Neat side of history. No graffiti vandalism on train cars back then.

[debtshredder]

I don't know about any of the others, but the first photograph is a still from Buster Keaton's "The General" his Civil War film made in 1927. The wreck was staged for the film using a real locomotive, a real bridge and a real fire. Obviously, a one-take scene.

[WilliamCooper-lf]

A lot of people don't understand why towns are often close to each other. This was due to how far a steam 🚂 engine could travel before it needed to take on more water. After all these water stops were built, the steam engine improved, causing some of these water stops to disappear, no longer serving any purpose. Once the diesel-electric engine (a diesel engine spinning an electric turbine, providing electricity to a large electric motor) replaced steam, even more of these water stop towns completely disappeared or regressed into mere villages or for ranch use. Locations that were strategically useful for the railroad thrived and grew.

The second most important thing about these pictures, is the high cost that it took to build this country into the superpower that it became. We have activists today, who want to erase this history of sacrifice, struggle, hardship, and death from the books and replace it all with nothing but racism, oppression, guilt, and shame. They, who have invested absolutely nothing into this society, see it as their duty, to destroy our society and remake it into their warped image and the first place they start their attack, is our history.

Thank you History Lounge for being a true guardian of our history and heritage and we salute you, sir.

[nameless]

Why is the Texas the image for the first wreck? Wasn’t that a shot from 1926 from Buster Keaton’s; “The General” Movie?

[WDSY]

Hey, if I ever become a time-traveler, I'm staying away from Boston. Just sayin'

[ultrastew]

The derailment titled Michigan Central Station is actually Ann Arbor Michigan

[GoCorvette]

And just think of the equipment it takes to lift those heavy locomotives weighing tons. Thanks for the video history.

[harri]

I dread to think how many staff and passengers lost their lives in these wrecks. The first image was, of course, a staged wreck for the Buster Keaton film "The General". The wreck at 6m.34s was at Maze Hill near Greenwich, London in 1958. Luckily the train ran into a rake of empty electric multiple units and the driver was unhurt.

[АлексейКолпаков-ох]

В первом кадре, 1927 года, была сцена из фильма, ,Генерал".

[kleetus]

0:58 that wreck is somewhere on the PRR system as that was a K4 Pacific buried in the mud. If I had to guess, somewhere near Harrisburg by the Susquehanna river in the 1930's or early 40's.

[jasonrodgers]

IMAGINE how difficult it would have been back then to deal with the aftermath of these wrecks! Hard ENOUGH today!

[jensschroder]

If a steam locomotive tips over, the fire must be put out. The water no longer surrounds the firebox, causing it to overheat. Even worse if the locomotive tips over at the front, all the water shoots forward away from the firebox.

[Railhog]

The locomotive in the 1940 pic is a heavy Mikado, It was Lima built and featured at brute look

[Derpy]

I can’t wait for these trains to get dash cams so we can see how this happened.

[omega]

You look at some of these and scratch your head and say: "How the Hell did they manage THAT?!?"

[peterruddick]

Had to watch this when I saw the train with "Monon" on the side. Sure enough, it was the same railway that gave its name to the Indianapolis Monon Trail, which was converted for outdoor exercise, I learned to roller blade there in the 90's

[SeattleBoatdog]

I miss the old days when the whole town would come out to pose with the carnage

[MemoryLN]

*I dread to think how many staff and passengers lost their lives in these wrecks. The first image was, of course, a staged wreck for the Buster Keaton film "The General". The wreck at 6m.34s was at Maze Hill near Greenwich, London in 1958. Luckily the train ran into a rake of empty electric multiple units and the driver was unhurt*