Major Disasters Revere Accident
The most catastrophic rear-end collision before 1880 was the Revere, Massachusetts of August 26, 1871. This wreak holds a special place in railroad history. Although only 32 people were killed and a 100 others were wounded. The accident made an impression on the imaginations of mid- Victorian American.

In building snowstorm in 1886, these double-heading B & O engines smacked into the rear of another train.

Rear Accidents mainly caused due to disregard of signals
In 1944 a rear-end collision killed 50 people when a crew on the Southern Pacific Railroad disregarded their signals. Again in 1945 a signalman failed to protect his train on the Great Northern, and 34 passengers were killed. 34 died at Coshocton, Ohio, in 1950 on the Pennsy in a rear-end collision caused by failure to protect a stalled train. That same year at Richmond Hill, Long Island, seventy-nine were killed in a rear-end smash-up on the Long Island.

It seems highly imporable but it did happen. The Chicago and Alton engine climbed right onto a freight car loaded with coal after ramming in from the rear.

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