When I moved in McDonough, Georgina in 1998 I have been very interested in train history here in Henry County. The story I heard about the "Crack" a term they used back in 1937 for the kind of passenger train which was derailed near Lovejoy, Georgia in November 1937 when it hit a truck. The story is that the truck driver's truck stalled out over the tracks and a man, woman and child were inside of the truck-all died in this tragic accident. The engineer, D.C. Wall of Atlanta died, the fireman, James Henry of Macon, Georgia, also died in this collision which derailed the train.

A witness in his 80's, back in 2002, had stated in an e-mail to me, that he saw one of these rails about 15 feet straight up in the air, the passenger car on the side, and, of course, his relative has an AOL e-mail account which no longer works, so, I am unable to contact for further information. :(

The Courier News 6 November 1937 › Page 1 Saturday Arkansas

Farmer, Wife and Daughter Perish; Engineer, Fireman Seriously Hurt LOVEJOY, Ga,. Nov. c (UP)— The crack Central of Georgia passenger train Southland plowed into a truck at a grade crossing today killing its three occupants and injuring a score of passengers. The dead were the farmer named Allen, his wife and their three-year-old daughter***. The engineer, D. C. Wall of Atlanta, and Fireman Jim Henry of Macon Ga., were pinned under the engine when it turned over. Both were alive but seriously injured. Many passengers, enroute from Florida points to Chicago, were shaken and bruised when the first five cars were derailed. Only the diner and one pullman remained on the tracks. Ambulances and physicians were sent from Atlanta to the scene but the passengers needed only first aid treatment. None was seriously hurt. Wall and Henry were pinned under (he engine and could not be reached by rescue workers)

The engineer was unconscious but the fireman could be heard calling for help. A mobile train crane was sent from Atlanta to lift the engine off of the two trapped men. The engine hit the truck broadside, throwing it into the air. The locomotive careened off the rails and tore up the track for 200 yards before it turned over. The derailed coaches leaned at a crazy angle but did not turn over. The man and woman in the truck were killed instantly. The child died enroute to an Atlanta hospital.

***The other newspaper accounts I found through my research claim the child who died was a son..


Photo courtesy of Beau Kelley