N.C.'s Deadliest Train Wreck-- Part 3

From the Dec. 2, 2013, Daily Beast "The Five Deadliest Train Derailments in U.S. History."

DECEMBER 16, 1943.   72 dead near Rennert, N.C.

An Atlantic Coast Line train lost three of its rear cars near Rennert.  Rescue operations were underway when another train, unaware of the accident and approaching from the opposite direction slammed into it.  The first train had fortunately been cleared of passengers, but 72 of the new train were killed in its first three cars.  Fifty-two of them were servicemen coming home for the holidays.

A visitor to the site shortly after the accident described "all the rails twisted like pretzels," and "carnage of track, wreckage, wheels, axles and twisted railroad."

--GreGen