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1938 Burgon's Crossing bus disaster

This view shows the former Burgon's Crossing in South Jordan, Utah, site of one of the deadliest school bus/train accidents in US history & an event that led to future laws regarding railroad crossings.  Today it is heavily developed w/ Interstate 15 running nearby.  At the time of the incident, the region was rural cultivated land & a single gravel country lane road made a hairpin 90 degree turn over the tracks.  More info below:



On December 1, 1938, 29-year old Farrold “Slim” Silcox was driving 39 kids on their way to Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah.  It was a nasty Utah winter storm, and at 8:43 in the morning Slim stop the school bus at the tracks like the law stated. He opened the door to look and did not see the “Flying Ute” train coming down the tracks at around 60 miles per hour.  In 1938 the law required school bus drivers to stop at railroad crossings, it did not require drivers to open the doors. So Slim exceeded his mandate as a driver in an attempt to be safe.


Slim had been driving this route for three years, and had never encountered the “Flying Ute” at this time of day. So despite the poor visibility he crossed the tracks. He had no way of knowing that the train was running two hours late and was traveling faster than normal to make up time.


As the school bus started to cross the tracks, the train pulling 50 cars slammed on the breaks. It was too late to avoid the collision which resulted in the bus being dragged a half mile down the tracks.  That morning Slim Silcox and 25 students lost their lives in the accident.


After that accident in Utah it became law in most states in the United States that drivers stop at railroad crossings, open the door, and the driver’s window and listen.  A memorial was erected on the 75th anniversary of this tragic accident at the north entrance of the South Jordan Cemetery.




From: https://thisweekinhistoryblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/01/decmber-1-1938-worst-railroad-crossing-accident-in-u-s-history/

Copyright: William L
Type: Spherical
Resolution: 12804x6402
Taken: 06/07/2024
Uploaded: 30/08/2024
Published: 30/08/2024
Views:

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Tags: 1938; burgon's crossing; railroad; school bus; tragedy; south jordan; utah; disaster; train; locomotive; accident; december 1; the flying ute; interstate 15
More About Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City Utah, cradle in between the Wasatch and the Oquirrh Mountains, Home of the 2002 winter Olympics and the Greatest Snow on earth. The Salt Lake Metro Area stretches between Bountiful and Bluffdale Utah


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