The Great Train Wreck of 1856

Ambler, Pennsylvania 

What's in a name? 

Well, in this case, quite a bit.

On a hot day in July 1856 the kids of 

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church 

of Kensington, Philadelphia

were looking forward to escaping the heat by train 

for a picnic in Shaeff's Woods in Wissahickon, PA. 

The train was carrying between 1,100-1,500 people 

straining the steam engine pulling 10-12 passenger cars behind. 

The train was running late due to the time needed to  

load all the passengers 

as well as the time it took to build steam pressure along the way.

A train engineer leaving from the Wissahickon Station
in the opposite direction 

waited the customary time for the "Picnic Special" excursion train 

to make its way through a shared section of single track.

However, the engineer of the "Picnic Special" never telegraphed 

about his delays because he believed he could make up the lost time.

Both trains proceeded on course.

Along a blind curve on the single track 

the trains collided in the early morning hours.

Introduce a Quaker woman living near the Wissahickon Station:

Mary Ambler. 

She gathered supplies and hurried to the scene. 

Her help was so notable that the train station was renamed

Ambler Station in her honor.

Twenty years later, the town's name was also changed 

from Wissahickon to Ambler.

This was the largest train wreck if it's time 

killing between 59-67 and injuring up to 100 more.

Sadly, the engineer from Wissahickon assumed guilt and commited suicide.
He was absolved of guilt but it was too late. 

The photos have nothing to do with the train wreck. 
They were taken at GATSME Model Railroad Club 
in Fort Washington, PA.