New Hamburg rail disaster

The New Hamburg rail disaster was an 1871 rail collision between a passenger train and a derailed oil car near New Hamburg, New York. The accident resulted in 22 fatalities.

On February 6th, 1871, a freight train called the "Extra Number 3" was hauling 25 cars whose cargo included oil. The No. 3 was heading southbound down the Hudson River Line. The night was particularly cold and frigid in condition. The No. 3 was being driven by engineer Edgar Underwood and the brakeman was Edgar's brother, Charles.^[1]

On that night, a passenger train called the "Second Pacific Express" was running behind schedule. The engineer was a man identified as "Simmons" and the brakeman was Lawrence Mooney.^[1][2]

Around 10:17 pm, the switchman, Dan Carroll, from Hamburg station observed sparks coming from the wheels of the oil cars of the No. 3. This was a sign that an axle had broken and Carroll warned Charles who was in the caboose. Unfortunately, there was no bell rope installed on the train meaning that the occupants of the caboose could not inform the engineer of any impending danger. The oil cars started to derail and overturn after they struck a beam of the nearby drawbridge over Wappinger Creek.^[1]

The derailed oil tanker cars lied directly on the path of the northbound Pacific Express.^[2] Edgar Underwood and a flagman at the station then raced to set up two bright red lights signifying any oncoming trains to stop immediately.^[1]

Simmons and Mooney both noticed the red lights and applied the brakes; however, the brakes proved to be insignificant as they had been designed to stop coaches, not sleeper cars as the Pacific Express had been hauling. In a last ditched effort, the Pacific Express threw the train into reverse, but it was too late and collision between the train and overturned oil car was imminent.^[1]

Upon colliding, the oil car exploded into a fireball. The force of the blast and ensuing fire destroyed the drawbridge sending the Pacific Express and several passenger cars into the frozen river below. Supports from the burning bridge also fell down on the waterlogged wreckage, further submersing it in the icy river.^[2]

Immediately following the collision, a train with a crane was dispatched to clear the site. However, 22 victims had lost their lives including both crewman of the Pacific Express.^[1] An article from the Brockport Republic identified following victims^[2]:

A coroner's jury exonerated all parties of blame. In the immediate aftermath of the wreck, laws required all trains to come to a complete stop before entering a drawbridge. However this law proved to be more of a burden than a safety precaution and by 1879, this law was overturned.^[2]

The New Hamburg disaster inspired poet Benjamin Franklin Taylor to pen 'The Hero of New Hamburg' honoring the bravery of Simmons and Mooney for their effort to stop the Pacific Express.^[1]

Legends of the accident also surround the nearby John Lawson House. According to locals, the mannequins seated on the porch of the house are said to be haunted by the victims of the 1871 tragedy. One legend even states that the mannequins will even position themselves facing towards the drawbridge where the accident occurred.^[3]