Brattleboro
witnessed one of the worst train wrecks in its history on this day
in 1886. It wasn't so much a train wreck as it was a bridge
failure.
A
ten car train was crossing the West River bridge, when suddenly
the entire bridge simply collapsed. Trestles remained standing,
but the tracks and railroad cars plummeted to the river below. Two
were killed and the public was spooked. No one could explain why
it had happened.
The
replacement bridge was constructed of heavy guage steel. To reassure
the public, officials drove ten flatbed cars loaded with 20 tons
of Dummerston granite over the new bridge.
Photo
courtesy the Vermont
Historical Society.
August Archives | August 19 |

As seen in this photo, the bridge completely collapsed.
The trestles are still standing, but everything else crumbled.
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