East Alton in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Wann Railroad Disaster
By Jason Voigt, September 15, 2019
1. Wann Railroad Disaster Marker
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.
Location. 38° 52.991′ N, 90° 6.659′ W. Marker is in East Alton, Illinois, in Madison County. Marker 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. Touch for map
By Jason Voigt, September 15, 2019
2. Wann Railroad Disaster Marker
The Fred H. Bright Vital Services Building is behind the marker.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lewis and Clark Expedition (approx. 1.6 miles away); In Remembrance - Wood River Massacre - July 10, 1814 (approx. 1.9 miles away); Robert Pershing Wadlow (approx. 2.3 miles away); John Mason Peck (approx. 2.3 miles away); College Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Old Rock House (approx. 2.4 miles away); College Avenue Presbyterian Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); Elijah Parish Lovejoy (approx. 2.4 miles away); Alton National Cemetery (approx. 2.9 miles away).
More about this marker. The marker was dedicated on June 15, 2019.
Categories. • Disasters • Railroads & Streetcars •
More. Search the internet for Wann Railroad Disaster.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2019. This page originally submitted on September 17, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 50 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 17, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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