Learn more about this horrific accident and others in McDonough's history, with the events planned tomorrow. Here's a run down of the exhibits, ceremonies etc. -- thanks to our pals at I ♥ McDonough, Georgia!
June 23 at 7am: "Quinlan's Run," a two-mile run that commemorates J.J. Quinlan's valiant effort the night of the crash to get help for the injured and stop another oncoming train from derailing. Starts at Old Ivey Road/Hwy 42, and ends at the old McDonough Train Depot. Registration required. No fee. Registration at 6:30am.
June 23 from 10am-5pm: Model Train Exhibit at the Chafin Building on the Square by Middle Georgia Railroad Club, featuring a replica of the No. 7 Train. Additional acitivites throughout the day will include information and stories by local historians.
June 23 at 8pm: Bible Baptist Church of Hampton will perform historic gospel music at Alexander Park in McDonough. This event is in honor of those who tragically died in the train wreck. Candle light ceremony to follow.
I ♥ McDonough, Georgia
The June 23, 1900 train wreck at Camp Creek in McDonough was fiery and deadly.
A northbound passenger train, heading from Macon to Atlanta, was running behind schedule when it pulled into the McDonough Depot around 9:30pm. The train departed about 15 minutes later, heading towards the bridge over Camp Creek, which had been washed out by several days of excessive rain.
The engineer, J.T. Sullivan, was unable to stop the train before reaching the bridge and the train crashed into Camp Creek. The train plunged 50 feet into the dark water. The deceased included a woman clutching a baby as they were carried away by the roaring current.
"The scene about us was something I can't describe to you," Jesse Rohr, a survivor from Baltimore, told the Atlanta Constitution two days after the derailment that claimed 39 lives. "The other coaches were smashed into kindling wood and burning. A black mass of water that looked to me like the Mississippi River and had a roar like Niagara, was rushing just beyond our cars."
It has been the dream of John Quinn, McDonough's local train expert, to have a historical marker erected to commemorate the crash site.
Today there is a full-scale replica of Locomotive 846, called "Old No.7," at Heritage Park, but no proper marker at the wreck site near the Camp Creek trestle. (For the record, Norfolk Southern Corp, which owns what used to be Southern Railway, says they do not allow signage or markers near active railroad tracks due to safety concerns).
This week, Quinn's efforts to ensure that the lives lost on that fateful day are never forgotten will gain steam -- much like that of a train engine, so to speak.
* June 19 at 7pm: “Old Number 7 Remembered," a play by Dutchtown High School Musical Theater Class at the Henry County Performing Arts Center. Complimentary tickets available at the McDonough Welcome Center, City Hall, and select downtown merchants. Based on the book “In Atlanta or in Hell” by author Jeffery C. Wells. Book signing follows performance.
* June 23 at 7am: "Quinlan's Run," a two-mile run that commemorates J.J. Quinlan's valiant effort the night of the crash to get help for the injured and stop another oncoming train from derailing. Starts at Old Ivey Road/Hwy 42, and ends at the old McDonough Train Depot. Registration required. No fee.
Registration at 6:30am. Form available online.
* June 23 from 10am-5pm: Model Train Exhibit at the Chafin Building on the Square by Middle Georgia Railroad Club, featuring a replica of the No. 7 Train. Additional acitivites throughout the day will include information and stories by local historians.
* June 23 at 8pm: Bible Baptist Church of Hampton will perform historic gospel music at Alexander Park in McDonough. This event is in honor of those who tragically died in the train wreck. Candle light ceremony to follow.
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