NMRA/Speedrail, Sept. 2, 1950
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Uploaded by gothpapa on Feb 25, 2010
On Labor Day Weekend 1950, the promise of a great 15th Anniversary Convention for NMRA turned to tragedy when two convention specials operating on the Speedrail rapid transit system collided head-on. You can learn more about this event at http://my.execpc.com/~jruss/NMRAspeedrail.html
Uploader Comments (gothpapa)
All Comments (16)
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Wow, what a video. It's funny how life goes sometimes, how one thing make such a difference. For me it was covering for a friend at the RR, I wasn't going to be on the train that day but I was and that's the day I had my one and only crossing accident, it still effects me to this day thinking about it, however, I still love trains. This video is very good, catching the exciting fun mood changing to a somber mood. A great piece of history.
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As the anniversary of this sad event is here, I want to thank you again for posting this video. It is a reminder as to how quickly a fun event can turn tragic. I have linked to it from my article on the wreck. We have a sunny, warm morning in Milwaukee today, just as it was that day in 1950. - Joe Russ
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While I am not a railfan or a train enthusiastic by any means I love looking at the old era videos. My Grandma who lived in Milwaukee still remembers this. With missing the train you were suppose to be on sometimes going slow helps out.....
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I was born in 1960 and grew up within 1 mile from the crash site. Today I know several people that were on those trains. I was told that this was the end for Speedrail.
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Wow there's a great video. I've never heard of that crash till now. Thanks for sharing.
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Neat to see what Milwauke looked like in the '50's!!
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Yeh, I'm still in the '50 year' craze. But still, historic footage!
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Incredible story! One of those strange twists of fate that stays with you the rest of your life.
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Just a note, neither motorman was killed in the accident. Jay Maeder president of the line was running the lightweigh units and bailed out. My friends grandfather was motorman on the duplex. He lived, but not without losing a leg.
Raylroad72 4 months ago
@Raylroad72 Thanks. I knew about Maeder but didn't know what happened to the other motorman.
gothpapa 4 months ago
Thanks for the anecdotes. Cut the legs off, yipes!
Amiduffer 2 years ago
Yes, I remember him saying that. Don't know what the outcome was. In those days emergency response people didn't travel around with cutting torches and jaws for life like they do now.
gothpapa 2 years ago
You must be glad you're alive right now
trainboy94 2 years ago
Well yes. And to this day, whenever I'm late for something I remember that morning and think that being late isn't such a bad thing. But that was the only train I ever missed (:-))
gothpapa 2 years ago