Monuments: Union Station (Part 3 of 3)

Our tour of Union Station continues.  

Pop Quiz:  What do Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor have in common with Union Station?

Answer:  They starred in the 1976 film Silver Streak, the ending of which was supposedly based on an actual event at Union Station in 1953.

"On January 14th, 1953, the overnight Federal Express No. 173 departed Boston at 11:00 p.m. carrying both passengers and mail en route to Washington D.C.  The engineer reported trouble with the air brakes about 45 minutes later, and an inspection was carried out during the New Your City stop, though no problems were discovered. The Federal Express departed New York City at 4:38 a.m., continuing to Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore, and departed from Baltimore at 7:50 a.m. for the last stop at Union Station."

"The train accelerated to 80 mph (normal speed) until reaching Landover, Maryland, when the engineer attempted to apply the brakes and start slowing for the approach to Washington D.C.  The regular brakes only slowed the train to 60 mph, and emergency brakes applied moments later brought it down to 50 mph.  The engineer then tried to throw the train into reverse, but the stress caused the electric engine to spark and malfunction.  As the train began the final descent into the city, a grade change caused the Federal Express to pick up speed.  Finally, the engineer sounded the distress signal, and began running through the cars telling passengers to get down and brace.  The signal worker in the yard quickly directed the train onto track 16 and phoned the stationmaster’s office to warn them of the approaching train, supposedly shouting “Runaway on track 16! Run for your lives!”  Twenty seconds later, the Federal Express barreled through the stationmaster’s office at 45 miles per hour, just barely missing the fleeing master and his staff."

"The Federal Express struck the bumper at the end of the track bed going 35 mph and crashed through the bumper, offices, a newsstand, and finally into the concourse itself.  The concourse floor gave way beneath the 240-ton locomotive, and the engine plunged into the mail level below . . . , coming to rest 6 inches from the foundation of the Main Waiting Room beyond."

"Incredibly, no one died or was even seriously injured in the crash, and train service was delayed but not suspended." 

The Federal Express resting in the Main Concourse, after crashing and falling through the floor.

A view of the Federal Express in the basement under the Main Concourse.

Passenger cars of the Federal Express

A random hottie hangs at Track 16, the site of the Federal Express train wreck

“Runaway on track 16! Run for your lives!”

So, what happened at the end of the film Silver Streak?  A runaway train crashes into a station.

Scene from Silver Streak.  Note the smile on the front of train.    

Thanks for touring Union Station with us.  And remember--train travel is still much safer than driving.