Shoddy Early Rail Construction

Early on,  American railroads were constructed in the quickest way, with little regard to safety, comfort or durability. Single tracks, steeper grades and sharper curves - no time to level inclines, cut tunnels or build up embankments.   America experimented with cheaper and quicker ways of laying tracks - with narrow gauges, wooden trestles in place of earthen or stone embankments, unballasted roadbeds and every kind of substitute material and short-cut methods.  

By mid-century American railroad wrecks due to flimsy construction and speed, over poorly constructed tracks caused numerous accidents.  The poorly graded sharp curves and unfenced track in rough terrain were the cause of western railroad mishaps as notorious as steamboat explosions in previous decades.  The need for speed driving people to get there faster was costing lives.

In 1842, Charles Dickens, who was not a man easily shocked, on his first American railway ride on the Boston and Lowell line, found it a terrifying experience.  Charles Richard Weld recorded his experience in 1855 on a train out of Cumberland, West Virginia bound for Washington, DC.  Departing late, the train was determined to make up time by increasing its speed.  Weld records his train car swaying around sharp curves to the point of having to hang on to the seat in front of him, and having a glass lamp fall from over his head.  

A fellow passenger who was experienced in railroad accidents, began to instruct him on how to prepare for a crash.  Weld, along with three ladies,  moved to the last car as that was said to be the safest car. After the crash did indeed happen, that move was credited with the reason they survived.  When Weld crawled from the wreckage, all the cars except half of the middle car and the engine were destroyed.  

Surprisingly, only Weld was willing to file a formal complaint against the conductor for excessive speed and reckless regard for passengers.  Most of those who survived were praising the conductor's efforts to get them to their destination on time!  

Next time...More on rail accidents

_______________________________

Today in Pioneer History: "On September 21, 1938, without warning a powerful Category 3 hurricane slams into Long Island and southern New England, causing 600 deaths and devastating coastal cities and town.  Called the Long Island Express, the great New England hurricane of 1938 was the most destructive storm to strike the region in the 20th century.  It was expected to make landfall in southern Florida, but the storm suddenly changed direction and began moving northward parallel to the eastern seaboard, coming ashore two days later in New York.