East Alton in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Wann Railroad Disaster

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 15, 2019

1. Wann Railroad Disaster Marker

Inscription. The Wann Disaster of January 21, 1893, is Madison County’s most horrific railroad tragedy. It caused the greatest loss of life and cases of personal injury in a single incident. The accident occurred at the Wann Junction on the Big Four Railroad, near the intersection of Shamrock and Main Streets in present-day East Alton. An open switch allowed an approaching passenger train to collide with oil-tanker cars causing an explosion that ignited and sent 7,000 gallons of oil into the air. The resulting “rain of fire” killed more than 35 and seriously injured dozens of passengers, railroad workers, and spectators.

Erected 2019 by Phillip D. Walkington and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 21, 1893.

Location. 38° 52.991′ N, 90° 6.659′ W. Marker is in East Alton, Illinois, in Madison County. It is on North Shamrock Street, on the right when traveling south. It is located in front of the Fred H. Bright Vital Services Building, which houses the East Alton Museum and East Alton's fire and police departments.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 209 North Shamrock Street, East Alton IL 62024, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Veterans War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); WWI War Horses in East Alton (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial Fountain (approx. 1.6 miles away); Freedom Shrine (approx. 1.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Wood River Massacre (approx. 1.9 miles away); Robert Pershing Wadlow (approx. 2.3 miles away); John Mason Peck (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East Alton.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Lewis and Clark Expedition (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. The marker was dedicated on June 15, 2019.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 15, 2019

2. Wann Railroad Disaster Marker

The Fred H. Bright Vital Services Building is behind the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,704 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 17, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.