On This Day LVRR Had A Wreck In Allentown

On July 22, 1858 a Lehigh Valley Railroad train was crossing a bridge over the Jordan Creek when it collapsed killing the fireman and engineer. Four other employees were injured.

Photo Credit: 'Library Of Congres'

Terrible Accident on the Lehigh Valley Railroad
GenDisasters.com/Easton Daily Express | Submitted & transcribed by Stu Beitler

"July 22, 1858-- A dreadful accident happened this morning on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, at Allentown, to a train of empty coal cars on their way to Mauch Chunk, by which the fireman and engineer lost their lives, and four other employees of the road were injured.

The accident occurred about half past seven o'clock. The train was passing the bridge over the Jordan, which has two spans, and the locomotive had nearly reached the pier when the span upon which the train was began to give way, and sank gradually for a minute or two, and then fell with an awful crash, carrying down the locomotive and about forty coal cars..."