Wrecks and Wreck Outfits
Significant Railroad Wrecks and Railroad Car Ferry sinkings in or near Michigan...
| Date | Location | Railroad | Deaths & (Injuries) | Notes |
|
September 5, 1851 |
Near Adrian |
MS&NI |
1 |
|
|
September 7, 1851 |
Elkhart, Indiana |
MS&NI |
1 |
|
|
April 5, 1853 |
Grand Crossing, IL |
MCRR/LSMS |
21 |
|
|
June 28, 1859 |
Mishawaka, IN |
Michigan Southern |
41 |
|
|
August 28, 1873 |
Muir, MI |
Detroit & Milwaukee |
4 |
|
|
September 17, 1873 |
West of Lowell, MI |
Detroit & Milwaukee |
2 |
|
|
July 18, 1874 |
Near Greenville, MI |
Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan |
6 |
|
|
October 10, 1879 |
Jackson, MI |
Michigan Central |
18 |
|
|
Unknown date, 1887? |
Elmwood, MI, Iron County |
C&NW |
8-10 |
Description. Water tower falls on section crew. |
|
January 28, 1889 |
Elmwood, MI, Iron County |
C&NW |
2 |
Description. Derailment kills Lt. Governor. |
|
October 14, 1889 (~) |
Lansing, MI |
Lansing Transit Ry. |
3 |
Hoist beam on wrecker breaks, killing 3. |
|
April 19, 1891 |
Kipton, OH |
LS&MS |
8 |
|
|
October 13, 1893 |
Jackson, MI |
Michigan Central |
14 |
|
|
October 19, 1893 |
Nichols (Battle Creek), MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
28 |
|
| July 8, 1897 | South of Bay City | Saginaw & Bay City Ry. (E) | 7 (3) | Interurban car ran off open drawbridge. Description. |
|
August 15, 1900 |
Pierson, MI |
Grand Rapids & Indiana |
6 |
Caused by operator error. |
|
November 27, 1901 |
Seneca, MI |
Wabash |
23 |
Head on. Error in reading orders. |
|
May 4, 1903 |
Detroit, MI (Canfield Ave.) |
GTW/LS&MS |
7 |
Rear end. Unscheduled train. |
|
August 7, 1903 |
Durand, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
26 |
|
|
December 26, 1903 |
East Paris, MI |
Pere Marquette |
18 |
|
|
1904 (date unknown) |
Elmdale, MI |
Pere Marquette |
5 |
Rear end collision. |
|
July 20, 1907 |
Salem, MI |
Pere Marquette |
30 |
Worst in Michigan.. |
|
Feb. 17, 1908 |
West Toledo, OH |
NYC/T&W |
8 |
Trolley strikes Big Four pass. train. |
|
1908 (date unknown) |
1 mile N/of Shultz |
CK&S |
2 |
Cornfield meet. Mix up of orders. |
|
September 14, 1908 |
Chesterton, IN |
LS&MS |
1 |
Rear end coll. at depot. Fog. |
|
October 12, 1908 |
Near Metz, MI |
Detroit & Mackinac |
17 |
Train derailed in middle of forest fire. |
|
Dec. 7, 1909 |
On Lake Erie |
Pere Marquette |
|
Ship lost. |
|
1910 (date unknown) |
Holland, OH |
LS&MS |
1 |
Rear ended freight. |
| June 2, 1910 | Chase, MI (Lake Co.) | Pere Marquette |
1/1 | Derailed train hit by another. Link. |
|
September 9, 1910 |
Off Sheboygan, WI |
Pere Marquette |
30 |
Railroad Car Ferry sank. |
|
September 19, 1910 |
St. Joseph, MI |
Pere Marquette |
1 |
Derailment. |
|
July 3, 1911 |
Mills Switch, MI |
DUR |
1 (44) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
| July 12, 1910 | Ortonille, MI | Interurbab | 1/62 | Car collides with work train. Link. |
|
July 30, 1911 |
Dearborn |
DUR |
1 (20) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 7, 1911 |
Youngs Crossing, Detroit |
DUR |
2 (12) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 15, 1911 |
Volney Smith Crossing Detroit |
DUR |
1 (3) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 19, 1911 |
Rougemere Yard, MI |
Pere Marquette |
1 (8) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
April 15, 1912 |
Dexter, MI |
Detroit Jackson & Chicago Ry. |
2 (30) |
Head on between 2 interurban cars. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 2, 1913 |
3 Miles West of Delray, MI |
Wabash Ry. |
3 (0) |
Derailment, broken throw rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 16, 1913 |
New Haven, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (24) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 10, 1913 |
Okemos, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 |
Derailment, loose tire on engine. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 6, 1913 |
Waterville, MI |
DUR |
2 (3) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 15, 1913 |
Francisco, MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (1) |
Unknown derailment. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 18, 1913 |
North Yard, Kalamazoo |
LS&MS |
2 (26) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 13, 1913 |
MAL Crossing, n/of Jackson MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (44) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 25, 1914 |
MAL Crossing, n/of Jackson MI |
Michigan Central |
3 (13) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 6, 1914 |
Foster's, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
3 (3) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 14, 1914 |
Michigan Center, MI |
Detroit Jackson & Chicago Ry. |
2 (15) |
Head on between 2 interurban cars. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
April 15, 1915 |
Detroit, MI |
Detroit Street Railway |
15/? |
Collided with a DT&I train at Jefferson Avenue. [NYT-1915-0415:1] |
|
April 27, 1916 |
Clarion, MI |
GR&I |
1 |
Derailment, Click Here. |
|
September 8, 1916 |
Rives Jct. MI |
Michigan Ry. (Interurban) |
2 (12) |
Head on. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 21, 1917 |
Waterloo, IN |
New York Central |
1 (19) |
Derailment of trains. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 9, 1917 |
St. Clair, MI |
Rapid Ry. (Interurban) |
4 (27) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 20, 1917 |
Melvin, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 (1) |
Derailment. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 4, 1917 |
Orchard Beach Crossing, Manistee |
M&NE and Manistee Interurban |
3 (20) |
Side collision at crossing. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
Augus 30, 1917 |
Britton, MI |
Wabash Ry. |
2 (0) |
Derailment. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 20, 1917 |
Riverside, MI (N/Benton Harbor) |
Pere Marquette |
1 (19) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 22, 1918 |
Ivanhoe, IN |
MCRR |
68 |
Circus train. |
|
July 20, 1918 |
Chelsea, MI |
Detroit, Jackson & Chicago Ry. |
15 (80) |
Head on, pass vs. freight. Interurban. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 23, 1918 |
Dexter, MI |
Michigan Central |
3 (2) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 25, 1919 |
Oakwood, MI |
DUR |
4 (44) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 26, 1919 |
2 Miles S/of Cadillac, MI |
Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry. |
2 (23) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 20, 1919 |
Beitner, 4 Miles s/Traverse City |
Pere Marquette |
6 (37) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 21, 1919 |
Francisco, MI |
DUR |
1 (2) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 5, 1920 |
Clarendon, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (6) |
Derailment, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 1, 1920 |
New Boston, MI |
PRR / Pere Marquette |
1 (3) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 24, 1920 |
Ortonville, MI |
DUR |
4 (12) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 23, 1921 |
Ashley, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (1) |
Derailment. Bad engine truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 27, 1921 |
Porter, IN |
MCRR / LSMS |
37 (20) |
|
|
May 7, 1921 |
Elkhart, IN Yard |
New York Central |
2 |
Collision in yard. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 18, 1921 |
Warsaw, MI (east of Ann Arbor) |
Detroit Jackson & Chicago Ry. |
5 (21) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 11, 1923 |
McDonald, MI |
Pere Marquette |
1 |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 13, 1923 |
Alexis, OH |
Pere Marquette |
2 (4) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 8, 1923 |
Vinewood Avenue, Detroit |
New York Central / MC |
1 (1) |
Collision on freight track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 12, 1923 |
Grayling, MI |
New York Central |
3 |
Side collision w/2nd train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 5, 1923 |
Durand, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
5 |
Derailment |
|
August 28, 1923 |
Edmore, near Marine City, MI |
DUR - Rapid Ry. |
1 (15) |
Head on at meeting point. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 25, 1924 |
Waterloo, IN |
New York Central |
1 (10) |
Rear ended. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 10, 1924 |
Kingsley, MI S/Traverse City |
Pennsylvania RR |
2 (0) |
Snow plow derailment. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 24, 1924 |
Botsford Yd, Kalamazoo |
Michigan Central |
1 |
|
|
December 3, 1924 |
Wyandotte, MI |
DUR |
5 (10) |
Collided with automobile. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 6, 1925 |
Bakertown, MI (Berrien County) |
Michigan Central |
1 |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 23, 1925 |
Oakwood, MI (Melvindale) |
Wabash Ry. |
2 (2) |
Head on collision, runaway. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
April 19, 1925 |
Sunny, MI (S/of Flint) |
DUR |
1 (16) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 29, 1925 |
Lake George, MI |
Ann Arbor Railroad |
1 |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 2, 1926 |
Monroe, MI |
Detroit Monroe & Toledo Short Line |
10 (36) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 7, 1926 |
Gibson, IN |
Michigan Central / NYC |
4 (1) |
RR motor car vs. train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 4, 1926 |
Goodison, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (36) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 18, 1927 |
Carpenter, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (3) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 11, 1928 |
Austin, MI (near Detroit?) |
DJ&C Ry. and DUR |
1 (25) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 8, 1928 |
Flushing, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 (16) |
Circus train derailed, bad track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 16, 1929 |
Fenwick, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 (1) |
Derailment, poor track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
April 16, 1929 |
Stanley, OH |
New York Central |
1 |
Collision in yard. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 14, 1929 |
Dowagiac, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (4) |
Train vs. truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 28, 1929 |
Glen Lord, MI S/Benton Harbor |
Pere Marquette,MI |
1 (1) |
Accident, bad switch. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 2, 1929 |
Ortonville, MI |
Eastern Michigan Ry. |
(61) |
Pass vs. freight. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 18, 1929 |
Morrice, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (1) |
Rear end. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 4, 1929 |
Pomona, MI |
Ann Arbor Railroad |
2 |
Wash out. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 27, 1930 |
Petosky, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 (6) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 28, 1930 |
Between North Yard & Utica, MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (1) |
Derailment, switch. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 30, 1932 |
Plymouth, MI |
Pere Marquette |
0 (6) |
Side collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 3, 1937 |
Between Muir and Ionia, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (7) |
Pass train derailed, bad track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 18, 1939 |
McBain, MI |
Ann Arbor Railroad |
1 |
Train vs. Gasoline tanker truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 22, 1929 |
Lake Michigan |
Grand Trunk Western |
42 |
RR Car ferry sank. Worst. |
|
February 2, 1930 |
Ann Pere, MI |
Pere Marquette |
0 (3) |
Derailment, speeding train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 19, 1930 |
Toledo, OH W/ "K" Tower |
Toledo Terminal / PRR |
1 (1) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 28, 1930 |
Belsay, MI e/of Flint, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (12) |
Derailment, open switch. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 25, 1930 |
McGrew Jct, Flint, MI |
Pere Marquette |
1 |
Side collision in yard. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 7, 1931 |
Nichols Yard, Battle Creek, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 (8) |
Switch opened in front of train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 6, 1931 |
Town Line, Dearborn MI |
Michigan Central |
0 (3) |
Switch opened in front of train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 19, 1931 |
West Detroit, MI |
Michigan Central |
0 (40) |
Head on, pass & freight. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 25,1931 |
Edmore, MI |
Pere Marquette |
2 (6) |
Derailment, speed on wye. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 27, 1932 |
Elkhart, IN |
NYC / Big Four |
0 (13) |
Rear end. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 28, 1933 |
Fenton, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (1) |
Head on w/switch engines. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 2, 1934 |
Iron Mountain, MI |
Milwaukee Road |
0 (6) |
Pass train derailed, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 10, 1934 |
Vermontville, MI |
Michigan Central |
5 (8) |
Train/automobile collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 3,, 1935 |
Riverdale, MI 4 Mi W/Elwell |
Pere Marquette |
0 (5) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 5, 1936 |
Wayne Jct. MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (5) |
Rear end in siding. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 9, 1936 |
Riga, MI |
New York Central |
1 (1) |
Train vs. Road grader. ICC Report [PDF] |
| July 18, 1936 | Dundee, MI | Ann Arbor | 9 | Car hit by train, pushed into Raisin River bridge. 2 famlies killed. |
|
September 30, 1936 |
Urania, MI |
Ann Arbor Railroad |
0 (13) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 7, 1937 |
MichiganCity, IN |
Pere Marquette |
0 (5) |
Derailment, kinked track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 9, 1937 |
Lansing, MI at depot |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 |
Derailment, brake rigging. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 12, 1937 |
Vulcan, OH (N/Nasby Tower) |
TA&W / Toledo & IN Ry |
3 (9) |
Side collision at interlocking. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 17, 1937 |
Beech, MI |
Pere Marquette |
0 (34) |
Derailment, spread track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
February 13, 1938 |
4 miles N of Monroe, MI |
Michigan Central |
0 (14) |
Rear end collision, 2 pass. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 30, 1939 |
Michigamme, MI |
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic RR |
2 |
Derailment from landslide. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 2, 1939 |
Kalamazoo, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (2) |
Train vs. automobile. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 12, 1940 |
Bessemer, MI |
Chicago & Northwestern |
1 (5) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 22, 1941 |
Z Tower, Toledo, OH |
New York Central |
0 (30) |
Collision w/freight. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 7, 1941 |
Sault St. Marie |
Canadian Pacific? |
2 |
Bascule bridge collapse. |
|
January 13, 1942 |
2 miles S of Mullet Lake, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 |
Derailment, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 23, 1942 |
Green Oak, MI W/South Lyon |
Pere Marquette |
3 (23) |
Pass train hit automobile. ICC Report [PDF] |
| October 28, 1942 | Hamtramck, Caniff & GTW | Grand Trunk Western | 16 (27) | DSR bus struck by GTW passenger train. [DFP] |
|
October 30, 1942 |
Durand, MI (West of) |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (25) |
Pass train hit freight cars. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 19, 1943 |
Hughart, MI |
Michigan Central |
1 (1) |
Derailed, stone on rails. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 16, 1944 |
Wyandotte, MI |
Detroit Toledo & Ironton |
1 |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 28, 1944 |
Sibley, MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (25) |
Train vs. car accident. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 30, 1945 |
Eaton Rapids, mI |
Michigan Central |
2 (6) |
Head on collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 7, 1945 |
Smith's Creek, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 (3) |
Read end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 22, 1946 |
Fort Custer Yard, MI |
Michigan Central |
3 (3) |
Head on in yard. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
May 2, 1947 |
Dean Yard, Midland, MI |
Pere Marquette |
0 (3) |
Rear end, in yard limits. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 18, 1948 |
6 Miles w/Of Battle Creek, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
3 (1) |
Derailment, broken journal. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 26, 1948 |
West Unity, OH |
NYC / Wabash |
1 (7) |
Side collision at interlocking. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
January 3, 1949 |
Rock, MI |
Chicago & Northwestern |
1 (15) |
Derailment, bad wheel. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 27, 1949 |
2 miles N of Richland Junction MI |
Michigan Central |
2 (1) |
Derailment, bad track. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 26, 1950 |
4 Miles N/Elmira, MI |
Pennsylvania RR |
0 (14) |
Rear end collision. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 26, 1950 |
Andersonville, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
1 (9) |
Rear end, freight/pass. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 14, 1951 |
Pennford, MI |
PRR / DT&I |
0 (3) |
Side collision at interlocking. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
March 15, 1951 |
Trenton, MI |
New York Central |
3 (17) |
Psgr derailment, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
August 28, 1951 |
Nottawa, MI |
Pennsylvania RR |
0 (6) |
Psgr derailment, broken rail. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
December 14, 1951 |
L'Anse, MI |
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic RR |
2 (2) |
Derailment, out of control. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 3, 1952 |
1 mile W of Elkhart, IN |
New York Central |
2 (7) |
Broken wheel on motor car. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 29, 1952 |
East of Linden, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
0 (6) |
Head on between 2 freights. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 26, 1952 |
East of Burton, MI |
Grand Trunk Western |
2 (5) |
Passenger train too fast in turnout, derailed and hit 2nd pass. train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
October 3, 1952 |
Onota, MI |
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic RR |
1 (5) |
Motor car vs. train. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
September 14, 1953 |
MAL Crossing, n/of Jackson, MI |
GTW / NYC |
1 |
Train vs. RR motor car. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 18, 1955 |
Newport, MI |
New York Central |
9 (3) |
Train vs. truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 16, 1957 |
1 mile W of White Pigeon, MI |
New York Central |
1 (32) |
Psgr train derailed, excess speed. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
June 10, 1967 |
Thompsonville, MI |
Chesapeake & Ohio |
4 (28) |
Train vs. truck. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
July 22, 1989 |
Freeland, MI |
CSX |
0 (15) |
Derail, hazmat, 1,000 evacuated. ICC Report [PDF] |
|
November 15, 2001 |
Andersonville, MI |
CN |
3 |
2 freights, 1 in siding |
Other Notable Disasters in Michigan
Date |
Location |
Railroad |
Problem |
| March 4, 1889 | Windsor, ON | Grand Trunk Western | Car ferry "Transit I" was destroyed by fire. |
| April 17, 1905 | Durand, MI | Grand Trunk Western | Depot nearly destroyed by fire. |
| November 12, 1906 | Detroit, MI | Michigan Central Railroad | Third Street Station burns. |
| May 29, 1909 | Manistique, MI | Ann Arbor Railroad | Car ferry #4 capsizes |
| March 8, 1910 | Manitowoc, MI | Ann Arbor Railroad | Car ferry #1 burns |
| February 1, 1968 | Michigan | New York Central System | Penn Central formed, declared bankrupt in June, 1970 |
Wreck Outfits
Railroads in history operated wreck "outfits", usually special trains which were kept in terminals under steam, ready to head out to derailments and other disasters. Crews for these trains were usually men selected from maintenance right-of-way crews and roundhouse crews. Each wrecking outfit contained a large powered derrick as its main tool. Sometimes, railroads borrowed wreck outfits from other railroads, if they didn't have their own close by wreck outfit or in large derailments requiring more than one crane. In addition to picking up and removing locomotives and railroad cars, the wreck outfit also built temporary tracks to open the road as quickly as possible. Flat cars on the wreck outfits brought new ties, rail, and tempoary wheelsets for cars that needed to return to the shops for repair.
| Railroad | Base Location | Notes |
| DT&I | Ford Rouge | Road wreck crew |
| Michigan Central | Detroit - Livernois Yard | Tunnel wrecker - Note 1 |
| " | Detroit - Livernois Yard | Road wreck crew. |
| Note 1 - The Michigan Central maintained a special wreck crew for the Detroit-Windsor International railroad tunnel. The Industrial Brownhoist derrick could be operated by steam or third rail electricity in the tunnel and the approaches to the tunnel. This derrick remains operational and is located at Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford. | ||