A Routine Ride Turns Fatal
On November 1, 1918, a Brighton-Beach-bound train sped dangerously through the tunnel under Brooklyn’s Malbone Street. With five wooden cars packed with around 650 passengers, the train took a deadly turn. At 6:42 PM, it derailed while navigating a sharp curve, leading to one of the deadliest railway accidents in American history. Over 93 lives were lost in the catastrophic crash.
Chaos in the Tunnel
As the train hit the tunnel’s concrete walls, its wooden cars splintered, throwing passengers into jagged debris. Survivors staggered out, their clothes shredded, while others lay motionless amidst the wreckage. Firefighters worked tirelessly to rescue the injured and retrieve the deceased. Morgues overflowed, with frantic families searching for loved ones, many unrecognizable due to the severity of the injuries.
The Causes of Disaster
The driver, Edward Luciano, was tragically unqualified. A dispatcher by trade, he had just two hours of training and had lost his young daughter to the Spanish flu days prior. The train’s improper car arrangement—lightweight trailers placed between heavier motor cars—exacerbated the disaster, increasing derailment risks.
Aftermath and Legacy
Despite public outrage, no one was convicted. The tragedy spurred stricter safety protocols, signaling improvements, and modernized car designs, forever altering New York City’s subway system.
On November 1, 1918, a packed Brighton-Beach-bound train roared into a deadly curve beneath Brooklyn’s Malbone Street. Traveling too fast, it derailed, ripping apart its wooden cars and claiming at least 93 lives. It remains New York City’s deadliest subway disaster.🧵1/4👇 pic.twitter.com/dNlac82l1I
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