Two Trains crash in Brooklyn
One hundred years ago today … At 9:35 pm, two Long Island Railroad trains collided at Atlantic Avenue and Crescent Street, Brooklyn, close to the Queens border. More than 50 people were injured.
Daily News, 14 February 1921, p.1. Chronicling America.
As usual, the News photography staff was quick to the scene, printing photos in their morning edition the next day. And then bragging about it the day after that.
Daily News, 15 February 1921, p.2. Chronicling America.
The two trains, apparently traveling on grade-level (street level) tracks, were a five-car westbound express and a seven-car westbound local, which was cleaved in half in the accident.
The Standard Union, 14 February 1921, p.1. Chronicling America
The tracks are long gone from the spot, which looked like this in a 2009 photo:
Google Maps.
The driver of the local train, Edward Costello, was arrested on a charge of felonious assault, accused of ignoring a red signal. Oddly enough, he lived walking distance from the site of the crash, at 4640 Atlantic Avenue.
Google Maps.
– Jonathan Goldman, February 13, 2021
TAGS: public transportation, trains, urban planning, accidents, injuries, newspapers