By Evelyn Edson

Date:10 September 1935
Image Number: IED01_1935WarrenTrainWreck
It was early in the morning of September 10, 1935, when two C&O freight trains collided head on just west of Warren. There was a single track there, and the west-bound train received a signal to move onto a siding to let the east-bound train through. The engineer had received the signal at Strathmore, just west of Bremo, but apparently fell asleep until he was rudely awakened at 1:05 a.m.
In his defense, he said he had been on duty for almost eleven hours and twenty minutes.

Date:10 September 1935
Image Number: IED02_1935WarrenTrainWreck
Train No. 78, the east-bound train, had 160 cars and a caboose while the west-bound train, Extra 1246, had 150 cars and a caboose. Fortunately, no one was killed, although the fireman of each engine and the head brakeman of Train 78 were injured.

Date:10 September 1935
Image Number: IED07_1935WarrenTrainWreck
The accident report does not say what each train was carrying, but we assume the west-bound carried coal and the east-bound train had empty cars.

Date:10 September 1935
Image Number: IED03_1935WarrenTrainWreck

Date:10 September 1935
Image Number: IED06_1935WarrenTrainWreck
The wreck was spectacular with a number of cars derailed and tossed helter-skelter on and beside the tracks. Local people trekked out to see the sight. Among them was Edward Dorrier, who took his camera and provided us with these photos. His daughter, Irene Dorrier, donated the photos to Scottsville Museum.
Copyright © 2022 by Scottsville Museum
First Image of 1935 Train Wreck Located On: Capturing Our Heritage, CDIED01
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Second Image 1935 Train Wreck Located On: Capturing Our Heritage, CDIED01
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ThirdImage of 1935 Train Wreck Located On: Capturing Our Heritage, CDIED01
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