Near Weatherly in Carbon County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Disaster at Mud Run
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 25, 2019
1. Disaster at Mud Run Marker
”This is one of the worst wrecks ever in the country, because you had wooden cars. They were prone to 'telescoping,' or collapsing when they were hit from behind by an 'iron horse.'”
—John Koehler
Railroad Historian, Weatherly
Mud Run is the name of the tributary entering here on the east side of the Lehigh River. On an October evening in 1888, two special passenger trains collided on the tracks across the river. When one train smashed into the other from behind, passenger cars telescoped and split apart. The boiler of one locomotive burst open, spraying deadly steam over the wreckage.
Twenty-nine of the 64 who died here lived in the small borough (population 3000) of Avoca, Pennsylvania. Many were young boys who played in a drum and bugle corps and had performed earlier in the day. A witness at the scene wrote that "scattered throughout the wreck were broken musical instruments, smashed up drums and articles of wearing apparel."
Erected by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1888.
Location. 40° 59.321′ N, 75° 42.827′ W. Marker is near Weatherly, Pennsylvania
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A Revolution in Canal Technology (here, next to this marker); Engineering Marvel (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); From Rails to Trails (approx. 2.6 miles away); Lehigh Gorge State Park (approx. 2.6 miles away); Audubon Spoke for the Trees (approx. 2.6 miles away); Railroad Intersection (approx. 3˝ miles away); River Ran Black (approx. 4.2 miles away); a different marker also named River Ran Black (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Weatherly.
More about this marker. Access to marker is via bicycle, horseback, kayak/canoe, or foot.
Also see . . .
1. Mud Run Disaster. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on September 3, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Mud Run Train Disaster. Cultured Carbon Couty website entry:
The most costly wreck in early Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley Railroad history took roughly sixty lives. The victims were members of the Father Mathew Society. Many were Irish Catholic coal miners relatively new to this country. It was reported
2. Disaster at Mud Run Marker detail
3. Mud Run Train Wreck - October 10, 1888 - List of Victims. Minooka Memories blogsite entry (Submitted on July 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 25, 2019
3. Disaster at Mud Run Marker
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 25, 2019
4. Lehigh River, Mud Run, and old Railroad Bridge
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 674 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
