American History

mahatmakanejeeves

(64,414 posts) Mon Apr 21, 2025, 11:11 AM Monday

On April 19, 1940, 31 people were killed when a New York Central passenger train derailed in Little Falls, New York.

List of rail accidents (1940–1949)#1940

• April 19 – United States – Little Falls Gulf Curve crash of 1940 – Little Falls, New York: The New York Central Lake Shore Limited, running from New York City to Chicago derails due to excessive speed on a curve resulting in the deaths of 31 and injuring nearly 140. The train had left Albany 21 minutes behind schedule and the engineer was trying to make up time.

Memorial plaque for 1940 Lakeshore Limited derailment in Little Falls, New York.

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On April 19, 1940, 31 people were killed when a New York Central passenger train derailed in Little Falls, New York. (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Monday OP

Thanks for posting this. I remember my parents talking about this in the fifties like it was..... FadedMullet Monday #1

Read the Wikipedia account. Really interesting as it goes into numerous details, everything from.... FadedMullet Monday #2

FadedMullet

(65 posts)

1. Thanks for posting this. I remember my parents talking about this in the fifties like it was.....

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Mon Apr 21, 2025, 02:22 PM

Monday

....still big news. I guess train wrecks were much rarer then airplane crashes are today.

FadedMullet

(65 posts)

2. Read the Wikipedia account. Really interesting as it goes into numerous details, everything from....

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Mon Apr 21, 2025, 02:34 PM

Monday

......the type of locomotive, history of the curve in the track to the 35 Chinese nationals who were be being transported to San Francisco by U.S. Marshall’s to be deported and survived because they were in the last car. Wouldn’t you like to know how the news media handled that detail back then?

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