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Train Wrecks In Montgomery County, TN

Saturday, September 29, 1906 Passenger Train 102 was traveling to Clarksville from Memphis and was 25 minutes late.  The draw bridge in Clarksville was open to allow passage of the river steamer “Buttorff.”  The red signal lights were on but, for some unknown reason, Engineer Frank Porter apparently didn’t notice.  The engine, coal tender, baggage car, and mail car plunged fifty feet into the Cumberland River. The three passenger cars stayed on the bridge due to use of the new Westinghouse Air Brakes.  Engineer Frank Porter and Express Manager Will Wood both drowned, while several other crew members were rescued from the river. Friday, June 13, 1947 The second high dive from the Clarksville draw bridge occurred as local freight #117 was scheduled to set out three cars of merchandise at the Clarksville Freight Station.  Federal inspectors had requested the bridge operator to open the bridge for its regular three month inspection about this time, as well.  As Engineer John Black moved the train toward the bridge to make the set out, apparently not seeing the red stop signal, he plunged to his death in the Cumberland River along with Fireman M.E. Carter.  The other four crewmen survived because they had stepped off the train as it was stopping to make the set out.  The engine, coal tender, and two cars containing slag ballast fell off the bridge into about thirty feet of water. (My father, Leslie “Cush” Smith, was working at Orgain Building Supply Company at this time and witnessed the above event.  He had even been an acquaintance of Engineer John Black.  I lacked one week being six years old, but I can vividly recall my Dad coming home that day and talking about this tragic incident.) Thursday, June 7, 1951 The most serious head-on collision on the Memphis line occurred on this date.  Northbound Pan American #198 was traveling into Clarksville from Memphis as the Southbound Local #103 was traveling toward Memphis, being two hours and twenty minutes late.  Both trains were pulling five cars.  The two trains usually met at Faxon across the Tennessee River.  The Northbound Pan was given a train order at Paris to meet Train #103 at Hematite in Montgomery County.  However, for some unknown reason, the Northbound Pan didn’t stop at Hematite to allow train #103 to go into the siding around them.  Instead, it went two miles beyond the switch track and hit Southbound #103 head-on at Steele Springs.  This resulted in the death of six crewmen.  Amazingly, only two of the twenty-seven passengers injured were severe enough to require hospitalization.  Both engines were totaled, and five cars were damaged beyond repair.  (I also remember this wreck, as I was not quite ten years old at the time.) Respectfully submitted by: Anthony Jerome “Tony” Smith