FtV - The Wreck of the Montreal Express

In this re-airing of New England Legends Podcast's Episode 180, Jeff Belanger and Ray Oshir revisit the tragic 1887 Wreck of the Montreal Express, a disaster that unfolded on the West Hartford Bridge in Vermont. The episode details how the Boston-Montreal Night Express, delayed by a late New York train, derailed just four miles from White River Junction while crossing the 640-foot bridge over the White River. A broken rail triggered a chain reaction, causing four passenger cars to plunge over 40 feet into the icy river below. The ensuing fire, fueled by coal stoves and kerosene lanterns, consumed the wreckage, killing 32 passengers and five crew members. Survivors faced extreme hypothermia in sub-zero temperatures, with nearby homes serving as emergency shelters. The tragedy led to sweeping safety reforms: oil lanterns and coal stoves were banned on trains, replaced by electric lighting and steam heat. The hosts reflect on how such disasters—like the Titanic and 9/11—often catalyze systemic change. They also explore the site’s enduring haunted reputation, with reports of a ghostly boy and lingering spirits, and draw a modern parallel to the lack of regulation around e-bikes, suggesting that change often only comes after tragedy. The episode blends historical narrative, emotional storytelling, and reflective commentary on progress through pain.