1955 — Aug 22, School Bus Hit by Train at downtown crossing, Spring City, TN — 11

— 11 Chattanoogan.com. “School Bus, Train Wreck Memorial Set for Aug. 21,” Aug 18, 2004.
— 11 Wikipedia. “List of Rail Accidents (1950-1999).”

Narrative Information

Chattanoogan.com: “A commemorative event honoring the victims of the August 1955 tragic school bus, 140 car train wreck in Spring City is planned for Saturday, Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. at Spring City Elementary School. The 50th anniversary event is planned to kick-off a year of remembrance for the 11 children killed in the tragedy, numerous others injured and their families.

“The tragedy occurred on Aug. 22, 1955 as a school bus crossed the southern tracks at Highway 27 in Spring City delivering children to their homes after school. The wreck was witnessed by dozens of surrounding residents who raced to aid the victims. A number were trapped inside the bus and many were thrown as much as 100 yards from the site.

“Within an hour estimates of reporters and law enforcement were that 1,000 people had rushed to the scene to offer aid. Ambulances from Spring City, Crossville, Rockwood and Harriman raced to the scene and many of those injured were transported to Chamberlain Memorial Hospital in Rockwood by private cars.

“Spring City reporter the late Sybil Hardaway, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her graphic eyewitness account of the event. According to Mrs. Hardaway, blood donors raced to medical facilities to donate, including the entire Rockwood and Spring City High School football teams. Positive identification of all the victims was not made for five hours after the wreck according to her report.

“When the chaos cleared it was learned ten children ranging from kindergarten through middle school had died at the wreck. The 11th victim died during hospital care.

“At the time of the tragedy a group of Spring City woman took the historic step to travel to Nashville to lobby state government, creating the first law requiring school busses to stop at all railroad crossings. The law these woman created eventually was adopted throughout the entire United States….” (Chattanoogan.com. “School Bus, Train Wreck Memorial Set for Aug. 21,” 8-18-2004.)

Wikipedia: “August 22, 1955 – Spring City Train Disaster, Spring City, Tennessee, United States: School bus disregards crossing signal and is struck by freight train. Eleven dead, 39 hurt; all the dead are school children.” (Wikipedia. “List of Rail Accidents (1950-1999).”)

Sources

Chattanoogan.com. “School Bus, Train Wreck Memorial Set for Aug. 21,” 8-18-2004. Accessed at: http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_54317.asp

Wikipedia. “List of Rail Accidents (1950-1999).” Accessed 7-18-2018 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1950-1999_rail_accidents