Terrible train accident just west of Amherst — more than 25 are killed

Recently I was reminded of a terrible train wreck which took place near Amherst in Lorain County. It did not involve anyone from the immediate Norwalk area, but the story seems to me to be important to preserve. Very early on a foggy morning, March 29, 1916, eastbound train 86, a passenger train, was running east in two sections on the northern division of the New York Central Railroad just west of Amherst. The northern division at that point was double tracked. The two sections of train 86 were following each other and the lead train slowed because a signal was posted to do so. The second section of 86 was following at normal speed due to the signal showing that the track ahead was clear when that engineer passed it. When the second section was within two car lengths of the first section, the engineer realized that the first train was almost standing still. The second train hit the first one from the rear and continued forward through the buffet car and day car of the first train, throwing some wreckage onto the westbound track. One minute later the Twentieth Century Limited train running from New York to Chicago at 60 mph appeared from the east and could not see the wreck due to the darkness and fog. Of the Limited, 20 baggage cars and coaches were overturned, along with two of the large engines used on the Limited. When a count could be made, 27 were dead, mostly from the day coach of train 86, and 43 people were injured — some fatally, it was first believed. No one was injured on the Limited. Rescue conditions were almost impossible. It was not yet daylight and there was heavy fog. The only light available was from kerosene lanterns. The Amherst Fire Department was on the scene as soon as possible, and a number of Elyria policemen assisted in searching for victims. Ambulances were sent out from both Elyria and Lorain, but any traffic was hampered by unimproved muddy roads. Eventually every ambulance in the county was called to the scene and dozens of doctors responded. The injured were taken to the Elyria hospital, the closest facility. Very soon after the accident, the boiler of the second section of 86 exploded, putting out a fire which had started in the wreckage. Hot water from the boiler was put to use in treating the injured. When all was said and done, five victims were never identified, and are buried together in Amherst's Crown Hill Cemetery. Of course everyone had to know immediately what had gone wrong, and at first the blame was put on the man who was the signal tender, but a few days later a statement was issued that the controls for the signal tower were faulty, and the signals had indicated that the first section of 86 should stop, but showed 'clear' just a few minutes later for the second section.All in all, this wreck was a sobering message to train crews and passengers alike and it happened not far from Norwalk. * * * REMEMBER: My "Just Like Old Times" books are on sale at New Directions Design, 20 W. Main St., in downtown Norwalk. These contain my earlier columns fully indexed and in permanent book form. Henry Timman, an authority on Firelands history, resides in rural Norwalk.