1913 RPPC Train Wreck C&O and Penn RR Bridge Collapse Muncie Indiana Photo
$40.00
Condition: *Please* use the Hip photo magnifier to check for flaws on each picture, mouse over to zoom and ... Read more about the seller notes *Please* use the Hip photo magnifier to check for flaws on each picture ... Read More
Condition: *Please* use the Hip photo magnifier to check for flaws on each picture, mouse over to zoom and ... Read more about the seller notes *Please* use the Hip photo magnifier to check for flaws on each picture, mouse over to zoom and click to enlarge. Comes from a smoke free home. Common errors from the scanner vs damage are digital lines (usually grey or pink), cutting off the top of the card/words. Read Less about the seller notes
Original real photo postcard (RPPC) documenting the dramatic C&O and Pennsylvania Railroad bridge collapse in Muncie, Indiana, dated March 27, 1913. The image shows multiple freight cars derailed and twisted into the White River after a bridge failure, with heavy steel girders bent and the wreckage partially submerged in floodwaters.The handwritten caption on the front reads:“C&O and Penn. R.R. Bridges, Muncie, Ind. 3-27-13”, and an additional note on the reverse mentions “C&O R.R. a right tower,” referencing the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad’s portion of the damaged structure.This photo was likely taken in the aftermath of the Great Flood of 1913, one of the most catastrophic weather events in U.S. history, which devastated much of the Midwest, washing out rail lines and bridges across Indiana and Ohio. The flooding caused massive infrastructure loss and transportation disruption — this RPPC serves as an authentic visual record of that disaster’s impact on early 20th-century American railroads.The AZO stamp box with four triangles pointing up dates the postcard to 1904–1918, consistent with the handwritten 1913 date.Details:Type: Real Photo Postcard (RPPC)Date: March 27, 1913 (handwritten)Location: Muncie, IndianaSubject: Railroad bridge collapse / train wreck / flood damageRailroads: Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) and Pennsylvania RailroadCondition: Excellent clarity; mild corner wear and light surface toning; no major creases.Back: Divided back, unused; handwritten notes presentSize: Standard 3.5 x 5.5 inchesHistorical Context:The Great Flood of March 1913 remains one of the deadliest and most widespread natural disasters in U.S. history. In Indiana, torrential rains caused rivers to overflow, destroying railways and bridges vital to commerce. The Pennsylvania Railroad and Chesapeake & Ohio lines were particularly hard hit, halting transportation for weeks.This photograph likely captures one of the most significant structural failures in Muncie’s rail network, where twin bridges collapsed under the force of floodwaters, sending freight cars tumbling into the river. Such real photo postcards were commonly sold or exchanged locally as both documentation and memorabilia — a tangible reminder of a defining event in the city’s early 20th-century history.
Original real photo postcard (RPPC) documenting the dramatic C&O and Pennsylvania Railroad bridge collapse in Muncie, Indiana, dated March 27, 1913. The image shows multiple freight cars derailed and twisted into the White River after a bridge failure, with heavy steel girders bent and the wreckage partially submerged in floodwaters.The handwritten caption on the front reads:“C&O and Penn. R.R. Bridges, Muncie, Ind. 3-27-13”, and an additional note on the reverse mentions “C&O R.R. a right tower,” referencing the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad’s portion of the damaged structure.This photo was likely taken in the aftermath of the Great Flood of 1913, one of the most catastrophic weather events in U.S. history, which devastated much of the Midwest, washing out rail lines and bridges across Indiana and Ohio. The flooding caused massive infrastructure loss and transportation disruption — this RPPC serves as an authentic visual record of that disaster’s impact on early 20th-century American railroads.The AZO stamp box with four triangles pointing up dates the postcard to 1904–1918, consistent with the handwritten 1913 date.Details:Type: Real Photo Postcard (RPPC)Date: March 27, 1913 (handwritten)Location: Muncie, IndianaSubject: Railroad bridge collapse / train wreck / flood damageRailroads: Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) and Pennsylvania RailroadCondition: Excellent clarity; mild corner wear and light surface toning; no major creases.Back: Divided back, unused; handwritten notes presentSize: Standard 3.5 x 5.5 inchesHistorical Context:The Great Flood of March 1913 remains one of the deadliest and most widespread natural disasters in U.S. history. In Indiana, torrential rains caused rivers to overflow, destroying railways and bridges vital to commerce. The Pennsylvania Railroad and Chesapeake & Ohio lines were particularly hard hit, halting transportation for weeks.This photograph likely captures one of the most significant structural failures in Muncie’s rail network, where twin bridges collapsed under the force of floodwaters, sending freight cars tumbling into the river. Such real photo postcards were commonly sold or exchanged locally as both documentation and memorabilia — a tangible reminder of a defining event in the city’s early 20th-century history.
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- thepapergallery2 (2193)
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ID: 60010717