While searching the ICC Historic Railroad Accidents database, I came across this accident caused by a passenger train headed by NYC 6002 striking the debris from the aftermath of a freight train derailment, at 65 MPH.
You can read the whole thing here.
Excerpt:
Description of Accident
Extra 2858 West, a west-bound freight train, consisting of engine 2858, 24 cars an a caboose, passed South Bend, the last open office, 9.62 miles east of the point of accident, at 2:44 p.m., took a supply of water while moving over the track trough involved, and was moving on the westward main track at a speed of 38 miles per hour when the rear truck of the tender and the first to seventeenth cars, inclusive, were derailed at a point 2.07 miles east of the station at Terre Coupee. The engine stopped 679 feet west of the point of derailment. Separations occurred between all of the derailed cars. Soon after the derailment occurred, the ninth car, which obstructed the eastward main track, was struck by No. 66.
No. 66, an east-bound first-class passenger train, consists of engine 6002, one dormitory car, six Pullman sleeping cars, one dining ear, six Pullman sleeping cars and one dining car, in the order named. The fourth to seventh cars, inclusive, and the ninth and the thirteenth cars were of lightweight steel construction, and the remainder were of conventional steel construction. This train passed New Carlisle, the last open office, 3.77 miles west of the point of accident, at 2:55 p.m., and while moving on the eastward main track at a speed of 65 miles per hour it collided with the derailed freight car. The engine stopped on its right side 406 feet east of the point of collision and at an angle of 45 degrees to the track. The first ten cars stopped in various positions south of the main tracks and across them. The engine and the first seven cars were badly damaged.
The weather was clear at the time of the accident, which occurred about 2:58 p.m.
The engineer, the fireman and the front brakeman of No. 66, and a traveling fireman, who was on the engine, were injured.
Note: Engine 2858 would have been a class L-2c Mohawk 4-8-2.
