One of the deadliest accidents* in our area’s history took place exactly 100 years ago today. 29 people were killed and 62 injured when a Lehigh Valley Railroad train derailed about 20 miles east of Rochester. According to investigators at the time, it was a defective rail on a 400 foot bridge in Manchester, NY that shattered into seventeen pieces and sent at least 3 of the cars into Canandaigua Outlet. Newspaper reports described the scene as a “twisted and splintered mass of wreckage.”
Posts Tagged ‘Rochester disaster’...

Today, August 25, in Rochester History: Railroad Disaster Claims 29; Injures 62
Thursday, August 25th, 2011Tags: history of Rochester, Lehigh Valley Railroad, Manchester NY, old photos, old photos of Rochester, rail, rail crash, railroad, Rochester disaster, Rochester history, rochester images, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Shortsville NY, this date in Rochester history
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Train/Railroad Stuff | 21 Comments »

Today, December 21, in Rochester History: The Rochester Disaster.
Monday, December 21st, 2009On this day, December 21, 1887 in Rochester history…
On the afternoon of December 21, 1887, the Vacuum Oil Works attempted to transfer 14,000 gallons of naphtha (petroleum ether) through a pipeline running underground to the Municipal Gas Company on Canal Street (one mile from the falls). Unfortunately, the companies were unaware that construction on the sewers at Atkinson street (a mile and half away from the falls area) had ruptured the pipeline.
The flammable gas filled the sewers and drifted down the line towards the High Falls/Browns Race district. (more…)
Tags: Atkinson Street, Browns Race, Canal Street, Clinton Flour Mill, High Falls, Jefferson Flour Mill, Mill Street, Municipal Gas Company, naphtha, Naphtha Explosions, New York, New York Times, NY, NY Times, petroleum ehter, Platt Street, Rochester, Rochester disaster, Rochester history, Rochester NY, this date in Rochester history, Vacuum Oil Works, Washington Flour Mill
Posted in Rochester History | No Comments »
