Tragedy struck with train crash in Carlton in 1883

Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian

CARLTON – This picture was taken following the train wreck at Carlton (Ashwood) on July 27, 1883.

A freight car was blown off a siding onto the main track when an excursion train running to the Thousand Islands hit it at 9:48 p.m.

The two heavy engines were both overturned and heavy steel sleeping cars on the rear of the train crushed the light weight wooden passenger cars ahead.

As a result 17 people were killed and 25 were injured.

Our picture shows a number of curiosity seekers looking over the wreckage the next day.