McDonough in Henry County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Camp Creek Train Wreck
June 23, 1900
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 27, 2024
1. Camp Creek Train Wreck Marker, Side One
(side one)
This memorial is dedicated to the memory of the 39 passengers and crew who perished near this site in the worst train wreck in Georgia history; and to commemorate the heroic actions of Flagman JJ Quinlan, Porter TC Carter and the numerous citizens of McDonough who rendered aid.
It was dark and raining when No. 7, en route from Macon to Atlanta, left the depot. Lightning turned night into day and thunder shook the landscape. Three weeks of relentless rain had swollen the waters of Camp Creek weakening the trestle's massive stone and masonry support. The scream of brakes was the only warning as Engineer JT Sullivan tried in vain to stop the train from plunging into the dark watery abyss at Camp Creek.
(Side two)
Those Who Perished
J.T. Sullivan, Engineer
WA Barclay, WW Bennett, H Brady, John Brantley, Ed Byrd, Mr. Caprelian, HR Cressman, J Early, WO Ellis, JL Florida, GW Flournoy. C Frank, WH Green, DY Griffith, Clinton Hightower, JH Hunnicutt, WW Ipark, B Jester, WR Lawrence, WF Maddox, WL Morrisette, Jesse Pate, WJ Pate. JH Rhodes, B Smith, R Spencer, JE Woods, 11 others unnamed or unidentified
Passengers Who Survived
Clara
this page online
Railroad Employees Who Survived
JJ Quinlan, Flagman and TC Carter, Porter
Erected 2013 by City of McDonough.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is June 23, 1900.
Location. 33° 27.827′ N, 84° 9.359′ W. Marker is in McDonough, Georgia, in Henry County. It is at the intersection of Atlanta Street (U.S. 23) and Chase Court, on the right when traveling south on Atlanta Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 478 Atlanta Street, McDonough GA 30253, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Piedmont and in Metro Atlanta. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. 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, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 27, 2024
2. Camp Creek Train Wreck Marker, Side Two
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Right Wing at McDonough (approx. 0.6 miles away); Henry County (approx. 1.2 miles away); Henry County Courthouse (approx. 1.2 miles away); Henry County Sons Lost in Vietnam (approx. 1.3 miles away); McDonough Square (approx. 1.3 miles away); "Flame of Freedom" (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Brown House (approx. 1.4 miles away); Shingleroof Campground (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McDonough.
Also see . . . Camp Creek train wreck (Wikipedia). Overview:
The Camp Creek train wreck was a railroad disaster that took place on 23 June 1900 just outside McDonough, Georgia. The northbound Southern Railway train hit a washout 1.5 miles north of the town, plunging 60 feet into the swollen creek below before bursting into flames, killing 35 of the 45 aboard the train.(Submitted on January 22, 2025.)
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 27, 2024
3. Camp Creek Train Wreck Marker looking south at US Hwy 23 (Atlanta Street)
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 27, 2024
4. Camp Creek Train Wreck Marker side two looking towards Chase Court intersection
Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 13, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,021 times since then and 238 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 13, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
