Atlas Obscura · People & society

Malbone Street Wreck: NYC Subway's Deadliest Disaster

The Malbone Street wreck on November 1, 1918, remains NYC subway's worst catastrophe, with nearly 100 deaths and 250 injuries. It was not formally memorialized until its centennial.

The privately-owned BRT used 30-year-old wooden cars lacking headlights and speedometers, on tracks without timed signals or automatic brakes.

A strike by engineers and switchmen led to a substitute motorman with minimal training operating the train.

A dark indicator light caused confusion, and a reversal of direction may have led the motorman to miss a stop.

Approaching a curve with a 6 mph limit, the train traveled five times that speed, causing derailment and collision.

Rescue efforts were delayed by 45 minutes due to the crash's hidden location and lack of lighting.

No one was held criminally responsible, but civil judgments bankrupted the BRT. Safety improvements were slow.

A centennial plaque was installed in 2019. The tunnel entrance where the derailment occurred is still visible.

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