| 1883 Tehachapi train wreck | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Date | January 20, 1883 12:00 PM |
| Location | Tehachapi, California |
| Country | United States |
| Operator | Southern Pacific Railroad |
| Incident type | Derailment of a runaway train, fire |
| Cause | Air brakes were released, suspected robbery |
| Statistics | |
| Deaths | 15 |
| Injured | 12 |
The Tehachapi train wreck occurred on January 20, 1883, near Tehachapi, California, when a runaway train rolled down a slope into a curve and derailed. The accident resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including former Wisconsin congressman Charles H. Larrabee and Maria Guirado, the wife of the former California Governor John G. Downey. Governor Downey was also injured in the wreck.