On April 19, 1873, a train traveling through rural Rhode Island plunged into a washed-out bridge in the darkness before dawn.

What followed was one of the deadliest railroad disasters in the state’s history.

But this tragedy is only the beginning of the story.

In the months that followed, local mill communities made a surprising decision: they built a railroad at the very site of the disaster. It was a project plagued by economic collapse, public fear, and repeated setbacks from the very start.

In this episode of Forgotten Railroads of Rhode Island, we explore:
- The Richmond Switch train wreck of 1873
- Why mill villages along the Wood River desperately needed a railroad
- How the Panic of 1873 nearly killed the project before it began
- And how the Wood River Branch Railroad was built against long odds

This is Part 1 of a two-part series.

Part 2: COMING APRIL 16th

To learn more about the history of Rhode Island visit www.storyofrhodeisland.com

*For an ideal viewing experience, I recommend watching this episode on The Story of Rhode Island YouTube channel.