Kew Gardens train crash
Encyclopedia
The Kew Gardens train crash is the worst railway accident of Long Island Rail Road
history, and one of the worst in New York State history. It happened during the evening rush hour of November 22, 1950 between Kew Gardens
and Jamaica
stations in New York City
and killed 78 people. At the date of the crash this was described as being in the neighborhood Richmond Hill
but subsequent boundary changes mean the site is now considered to be in Kew Gardens.
station, came around the bend some 4,600 feet behind, having left Pennsylvania Station four minutes after the Hempstead train. It slowed to 15 mph in response to a "Go Slow" signal indicating congestion ahead. The engineer then saw the next signal beyond the stopped train, which showed "All Clear"; thinking that this applied to him he accelerated to 35 mph.
Neither train derailed; the impact pushed the stationary train forward 75 feet and split its last car lengthwise as the front car of the Babylon train telescoped
into it, shearing off the superstructure above the floor and driving the roof 15 feet into the air. 78 people were killed and 363 injured; one witness described the dead as "packed like sardines in their own blood". A survivor recounted "All I could see was parts of bodies, arms and legs protruding from the windows". Many of those who survived the impact were trapped in the darkness; unable to move in the pileup of dead bodies, amidst the screams and wails of the dying.
Help was soon on the scene but it was more than five hours before the last of the living was removed from the wreckage.
After the crash Automatic Speed Control (ASC) was installed on the tracks. The Pennsylvania Railroad
(owners of the L.I.R.R.) terminated the bankruptcy and began a 12 year improvement program at a cost of 58 million dollars. The L.I.R.R. was exempted from much of its tax burden and gained freedom to charge realistic fares.
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
history, and one of the worst in New York State history. It happened during the evening rush hour of November 22, 1950 between Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens (LIRR station)
Kew Gardens is a railroad station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road in Kew Gardens, Queens. The station is located at Austin Street and Lefferts Boulevard...
and Jamaica
Jamaica (LIRR station)
Jamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers...
stations in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and killed 78 people. At the date of the crash this was described as being in the neighborhood Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Queens
Richmond Hill is a neighborhood in central-southern Queens, New York City, USA. It is bordered by Kew Gardens to the north, Woodhaven and Ozone Park to the west, South Ozone Park to the south and South Jamaica to the east...
but subsequent boundary changes mean the site is now considered to be in Kew Gardens.
Stationary train
An eastbound New York (Manhattan) to Hempstead train consisting of 12 cars and carrying about 1000 passengers left Pennsylvania Station at 6:09 PM. Its first stop was to be Jamaica Station but as it passed the Kew Gardens station the train's engineer applied the air brakes to reduce speed to 15mph in response to a "Go slow" signal, but, once engaged, the brakes would not release, and the train halted. Whilst the engineer investigated the problem the brakeman travelling in the rear car got out and held a red lantern to warn any train following as per the regulations. He then heard the traction motors power; believing that the brakes were now working and that the train was about to depart he turned off the lantern and reboarded the rear car. But this was a mistake as he had not received a signal by the train's whistle to return to the train. The brakes were still locked on and the Hempstead train remained where it was, in the dark, without any protection from the rear.Following train
Soon afterward the train following, carrying 1,200 passengers bound for BabylonBabylon (LIRR station)
Babylon is a station on the Long Island Rail Road in the village of Babylon, New York at Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue. It is on the Montauk Branch, and is the eastern terminus of the Babylon Branch service...
station, came around the bend some 4,600 feet behind, having left Pennsylvania Station four minutes after the Hempstead train. It slowed to 15 mph in response to a "Go Slow" signal indicating congestion ahead. The engineer then saw the next signal beyond the stopped train, which showed "All Clear"; thinking that this applied to him he accelerated to 35 mph.
Collision
Meanwhile the brakeman on the Hempstead train signalled to his engineer that he was back aboard and the train could proceed, but he did not receive any response; he signalled again but the train stayed where it was. He prepared to get back onto the track when the Babylon train hit. Before he was killed the Babylon train's engineer applied the emergency brake but it was still travelling at 30mph when it collided with the stationary train.Neither train derailed; the impact pushed the stationary train forward 75 feet and split its last car lengthwise as the front car of the Babylon train telescoped
Telescoping (railway)
In a railway accident, telescoping occurs when the underframe of one vehicle overrides that of another, and smashes through the second vehicle's body...
into it, shearing off the superstructure above the floor and driving the roof 15 feet into the air. 78 people were killed and 363 injured; one witness described the dead as "packed like sardines in their own blood". A survivor recounted "All I could see was parts of bodies, arms and legs protruding from the windows". Many of those who survived the impact were trapped in the darkness; unable to move in the pileup of dead bodies, amidst the screams and wails of the dying.
Help was soon on the scene but it was more than five hours before the last of the living was removed from the wreckage.
Response
The official cause of the crash was determined to be the disregard of the "Go Slow" signal by the dead Babylon train's engineer, who instead reacted to the "All Clear" signal half a mile ahead. The brakeman of the Hempstead train was also criticised for leaving his train unprotected during the critical moments. There was public criticism of the accident which happened only nine months after another crash involving Long Island Rail Road trains at Rockville Centre killed 31 people. The L.I.R.R. had suffered from years of under-investment, the cars involved in this crash were built during 1910 and were typical of the fleet. The company had been prevented from increasing fares for almost 30 years (1918 - 1947) by the New York State Public Service Commission, despite increased operating costs. Indeed, at the time of the accident the LIRR had already filed for bankruptcy reorganisation.After the crash Automatic Speed Control (ASC) was installed on the tracks. The Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(owners of the L.I.R.R.) terminated the bankruptcy and began a 12 year improvement program at a cost of 58 million dollars. The L.I.R.R. was exempted from much of its tax burden and gained freedom to charge realistic fares.
External links
- A Picture History of Kew Gardens, NY includes links to several other pages, including the official ICCInterstate Commerce CommissionThe Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
report - November 22, 1950 Collision at Richmond Hill west of Jamaica Station