Oxford in Lafayette County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Buckner's Trestle

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 1, 2023

1. Buckner's Trestle Marker, Side One

Inscription. Buckner's Trestle was a wooden bridge built by the Mississippi Central Railroad in the late 1850s. This trestle was the site of two train wrecks. On February 25, 1870, the 3pm mail carrier left Oxford heading south toward Water Valley. The engine, a baggage car, a mail car, and the first passenger car made it over the trestle before it gave way. The other cars plunged into the ravine below claiming the lives of twenty passengers and injuring more than sixty others.

Buckner's Trestle was a one-hundred-foot long, fifty-foot high wooden bridge built by the Mississippi Central Railroad in the late 1850s. This trestle was the site of two train wrecks. On June 10, 1928, the No. 34 train known as the “Bilbo” was heading north toward Oxford from Water Valley. As. the engine hit the trestle its timbers, loosened by heavy rains, shifted and gave way. The wreck injured forty-two passengers, including several University of Mississippi students and faculty.

Erected 2013 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Disasters • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 25, 1870.

Location.

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34° 20.532′ N, 89° 33.084′ W. Marker is in Oxford, Mississippi, in Lafayette County. Marker is on South Campus Rail Trail, 0.9 miles south of Chucky Mullins Drive. The South Campus Rail Trail is only accessible by foot and is not wheelchair accessible. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: S Campus Rail Trail, Oxford MS 38655, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Buckner-Craig-Isom Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chucky Mullins Drive (approx. 1.2 miles away); Jeanette Phillips Drive (approx. 1.3 miles away); Confederate Soldiers Cemetery (approx. 1½ miles away); The Temple of the Star (approx. 1.6 miles away); Guyton Hall (approx. 1.7 miles away); University Park/Old Swayze Field (approx. 1.7 miles away); David Gaffney Sansing, Sr. (approx. 1.7 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Buckner’s Trestle Has Tragic, but Forgotten History. Many don’t realize the tranquil path where UM’s cross country teams and campus ROTC groups sometimes run crosses Buckner’s Trestle, the site of two long-forgotten railway tragedies. (Michael Newsom, University of Mississippi, posted Jan. 3, 2015) (Submitted on April 5, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. A Fearful Accident: The Wreck at Buckner's Trestle. Running behind schedule and with the

Buckner''s Trestle Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 1, 2023

2. Buckner''s Trestle Marker, Side Two

railroad's president among its passengers, the southbound train approached Buckner's Run on Feb. 25, 1870 at 30 to 40 mph, then considered a high rate of speed. (Jim Woodrick, "And speaking of which..." blog, posted Feb. 3, 2015) (Submitted on April 5, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Buckner's Trestle Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 1, 2023

3. Buckner's Trestle Marker

First Buckner's Trestle Collapse image. Click for full size.

Harper's Weekly via Internet Archive (Public Domain), March 19, 1870

4. First Buckner's Trestle Collapse

The 1870 disaster made national news, including Harper's Weekly.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 5, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.