Circus Train Wreck Lecture - January 16, 2010

On January 16 the Pioneer Library hosted a lecture by Paula Zitzler about The Town of Tyrone and the Wreck of the Walter L. Main Circus Train in 1893. Before trains were required to have pneumatic brakes, brakemen were assigned to manually apply the brakes of each car in the train. This train started down a large hill above the town of Tyrone and was unable to maintain a safe speed because the manual brakes were inadequate for the size of the train and the incline of the hill. When it came to a curve near Tyrone, it derailed, breaking apart cars holding many animals and killing some train workers and animals. Exotic animals escaped including elephants, camels, a black panther, many monkeys, valuable birds, tigers, water buffalo, hyena, bear, and alligators. The wreck also freed a large collection of snakes. It was reported that all animals that escaped were recaptured or killed. A tiger that escaped surprised a girl who was milking her cow in a barn. She ran away immediately. However, the tiger killed the cow and was later killed by the farmer. We had about 40 people in attendance. It was a very informative lecture that everyone enjoyed.