Atlantic City rail crash of 30 July 1896 (1896)

On July 30, 1896, a collision occurred shortly after 6:30 pm at a crossing west of Atlantic City, New Jersey. A West Jersey Railroad train carrying an excursion group was struck by a Reading Railroad express, crushing five passenger coaches. The disaster resulted in 50 deaths and approximately 60 serious injuries.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The crash involved a train consisting of five cars leaving Atlantic City on the West Jersey Railroad. This train carried a special excursion of members of the Improved Order of Red Men and their friends from Bridgeton and Salem, New Jersey. The tracks of the West Jersey Road crossed the Reading Road at an oblique angle near the drawbridge.

Collision. The excursion train reached the crossing of the Reading Railroad when it was struck by the 5:40 down express train from Philadelphia. The impact crushed five loaded passenger coaches. The accident occurred soon after 6:30 pm on July 30, 1896, at a crossing just west of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Aftermath. The collision killed 50 people and seriously injured approximately 60. Following the incident, six jurors stated the manner of the passengers' deaths. Contemporary reports, including those from The New York Times, covered the collision and the coroner's work in the days following the accident.

People involved

Sources

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