Gasconade Bridge train disaster
| Gasconade Bridge train disaster | |
|---|---|
The locomotive O'Sullivan | |
| Details | |
| Date | November 1, 1855 |
| Location | Gasconade, Missouri |
| Country | United States |
| Line | Pacific Railroad |
| Incident type | Derailment |
| Cause | Disputed, Excessive speed. (official) Bridge design flaw. (New York Times) |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Passengers | at least 600 |
| Deaths | 30+ |
| Injured | Hundreds |
The Gasconade Bridge train disaster was a rail accident in Gasconade, Missouri, on November 1, 1855. The Gasconade bridge collapsed under the locomotive O'Sullivan while crossing. More than thirty were killed in the first major deadly bridge collapse in American history.