Great Train Wreck of 1856

The Great Train Wreck of 1856
An 1856 artistic illustration of the Great Train Wreck
Details
DateJuly 17, 1856; 168 years ago (1856-07-17)
6:18 a.m.
LocationWhitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°07′43.66″N 75°12′10.56″W / 40.1287944°N 75.2029333°W / 40.1287944; -75.2029333
CountryUnited States
OperatorNorth Pennsylvania Railroad
Incident typeHead-on collision
CauseHuman error
Statistics
Trains2: "Shakamaxon" and "Aramingo"
Passengers"Shakamaxon": 1,100-1,500; "Aramingo": 20
DeathsApprox 60
InjuredOver 100

The Great Train Wreck of 1856 occurred in Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania, between Camp Hill station (known as Sandy Run, Camp Hill, Sellwick and finally Fellwick station before being closed in 1996) and Fort Washington station, on July 17, 1856. Two trains, traveling on the same track in converging directions, collided, killing between 59 and 67, and injuring over 100. The incident was referred to as The Camp Hill Disaster in Montgomery County, and The Picnic Train Tragedy in Philadelphia. It was the deadliest railroad catastrophe in the world up to that time and became one of the signature events of its era.