1912 Postcard DL&W Railroad Train Wreck Near Corning NY Gibson Elmira Collision for Sale

On eBay Now...

1912 Postcard DL&W Railroad Train Wreck Near Corning NY Gibson Elmira Collision For Sale

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1912 Postcard DL&W Railroad Train Wreck Near Corning NY Gibson Elmira Collision:
$299.99

This 1912 postcard features the train crash near Corning, New York, regarding the DL&W Railroad.

Approximate size: 5.4 inches x 3.4 inches

On the morning of July 4, 1912, at 5:21 a.m., a catastrophic rear-end collision occurred at the Gibson train station, three miles east of Corning. This incident, which took place near what is now the Corning Country Club, was the most severe of its kind in railroading history at that time.

The collision involved three trains that had departed from Elmira: freight train No. 393, passenger train No. 9, and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Express train No. 11. The disaster resulted in 39 fatalities and 88 injuries. Among the survivors were Frank and Henry Roemmelt.

On that Fourth of July morning, DL&W freight train No. 393, consisting of 55 cars, departed Elmira at 3:50. Due to engine difficulties and overheating, it pulled into the Gibson Station’s siding area to rectify the issue. However, after about 20 of its cars had cleared the tracks, a draw-head broke, leaving several unpowered freight cars stranded on the mainline.

Edward Lane, the flagman at Gibson Station, set up the warning signals. This included a “warning automatic semaphore” one mile east of Gibson and a “double danger semaphore signal” 300 yards from the rear of train No. 393. He also dispatched a man with a red flag down the tracks to a location half a mile from Gibson.

To alert No. 9 of the impending danger and to prevent it from colliding with the cars of train No. 393 still on the mainline, the conductor swiftly activated the signal.

Passenger train No. 9, equipped with two locomotives and 10 cars, left Elmira at 4:47 a.m. It was headed for Buffalo and Niagara Falls, carrying holiday excursionists from Brooklyn, Scranton, Binghamton, and Elmira. The engineer was T.J. Hartnett from Elmira, and the conductor was Howard Staples, also from Elmira.

Upon approaching Gibson, Hartnett noticed the warnings, decelerated, and eventually came to a halt. He discovered that No. 393 was in trouble while uncoupling the cars. As No. 393 was slow in its operations, Hartnett in No. 9 prepared to assist by pushing No. 393’s remaining cars into the siding.

Just after 5 a.m., DL&W Express No. 11, with eight cars, departed Elmira. It was carrying the United States mail and additional Fourth of July excursionists to Buffalo and Niagara Falls. As it thundered through Big Flats, the 100-ton engine was controlled by Engineer William Schroeder. A dense early-morning mist was rising from the Chemung River.

Meanwhile, at Gibson, many passengers from No. 9 had disembarked to stretch their legs and were walking along the tracks while No. 9 was moving No. 393’s cars to the siding. Down the line at the half-mile warning, Flagman Edward Lane foresaw the looming disaster — No. 11 had missed all three warnings and crashed into the rear of No. 9, which then collided with the back of No. 393.

In the days that followed, facts and rumors circulated. According to statements made by Lackawanna officials, Schroeder was one of their most experienced and well-trained engineers. He was striving to reach Buffalo with the mail, closely following No. 9, as he had done on numerous occasions before.

Engineers were known to reach speeds of 80 and even 90 mph through the straight stretch in Big Flats. Schroeder was estimated to be traveling at 65 mph when he passed the first warning and maintained this speed when he passed the flagman. He spotted No. 9 just 100 yards ahead. Without cutting off the steam, he slammed on the reverse. The sudden reversal of power was too much, causing the train to derail.

The train became a projectile due to the momentum, with only 50 yards to impact. The power reversal ejected Schroeder from the cab’s window, and he landed on his head and shoulder. He lay near the tracks as his train sped past him and crashed into the rear of No. 9. It plowed straight through No. 9, obliterating its last three coaches, and compressed the Pullman cars until they resembled a “closed accordion.” Then it came to a halt.

On the back a previous owner wrote "near Nicholds" on the back. I assume this person meant Nichols, NY, which was around 44 miles from where the train wreck happened. It's more accurate to say the wreck happened near Corning, NY.

Please inspect the pictures, as they give the best representation of condition.May have discoloring, edge or corner wear, marks, creases, fading, smudges, corner or edge bends, tears, or corners missing.

(E35 inventory number)