Our city’s transit system has experienced an incredible transformation through the years as our population increased and the need to travel expanded to every corner of the five boroughs. Brooklyn’s rich transit history is a truly remarkable story of ingenuity, labor, and technological advancement. But that journey also had a tragic and enduring legacy.
On November 1, 1918, our borough experienced what remains the worst train disaster in New York City history, and one of the deadliest in the history of the United States. At least ninety-three lives were lost in the Malbone Street Wreck in which a five-car train derailed and left the tracks as it was heading into a tunnel underneath Malbone Street toward Prospect Park station along the Brighton Beach Line. The tragedy devastated the families impacted and shocked our borough. It also led to many reforms in our transit system, which greatly improved the safety and security of all riders.
From what has been published censorship durig WW-1 was severe. Ascestors history mentions the flu epidemic with wagons going down streets in Atlanta picking up dead. Absolutely no newspaper coverage of same. Reports that president Wilson even threatened Senators with jail for disclosing internal US problems,
It was worse than usually described. Surprised that the ‘ghost hunters’ aren’t out in force; if there are tormented souls from anything, they’d be there.
If I remember correctly, the lawsuits from this wreck broke the BMT.
I’m still stunned, but at least someone remembers.
And I learned something new. I’m still amazed it’s not mentioned in any railwreck historys, at least none that I’ve read. “Real” rail snobbery against subways? If that’s the case it’s just not right.
In the New York spirit of laughing in the face of death: this from the Manhattan side of things:
Along came the IRT, a’cannon ballin’ through
From Two-hundred-forty-second Street to Flatbush Avenue
At 5:15 one Friday Eve, she pulled into Times Square
The people all filled the station, and Georgie he was there.
The people all filled the station, they milled and massed around
And Georgie looked upon that train and it was Brooklyn bound
He vowed at once that train to board, the weekend not to roam
For Georgie was a shipping clerk and Brooklyn was his home.
The people all filled the station, a million head or more
George used his elbows and his knees until he reached the door
But when he reached those portals, he could not take the gaff
The conductor shut the door on him and cut poor George in half
The train pulled out of Times Square, the swiftest on the line
It carried poor George’s head along, but it left his body behind
Poor Georgie died a hero’s death, a legend [martyr] plain to see
And the very last words poor Georgie said were “Screw the IRT”
Now when you ride the IRT and you approach Times Square
Incline your head a few degrees and say a silent prayer
For his body it lies between the ties, amidst the dust and dew
And his head it rides the IRT to Flatbush Avenue.
Recorded by Dave Van Ronk (of Garden State Stomp fame)
Tune: Engine 143 (aka Wreck of the F.F.V) by the Carter Family
While not lessening the impact of this disaster, accidents of this magnitude involving local transit don’t get that much coverage beyond the immediate geographic area, even today. Unless a person is involved in our hobby or is unusually well read, events like Malbone Street remain relatively unknown.
