Valley Falls train collision

Valley Falls train collision
A daguerreotype of the collision taken shortly after it occurred
Location of the collision within Rhode Island
Details
Date	August 12, 1853 Approximately 8:00 am
Location	Valley Falls, Rhode Island
Coordinates	41°53′41″N 71°23′09″W / 41.894627°N 71.385763°W / 41.894627; -71.385763
Country	United States
Operator	Providence and Worcester Railroad
Incident type	Collision
Cause	Human error
Statistics
Trains	2
Deaths	14
Injured	17
List of rail accidents (before 1880)

On August 12, 1853, two Providence and Worcester Railroad passenger trains collided head-on in Valley Falls, Rhode Island. The collision took place between a southbound excursion train and a regularly scheduled northbound train. The accident resulted in 14 fatalities and a further 17 serious injuries; an unknown number of passengers suffered less severe injuries.

The investigation into the accident found the conductor of the southbound train responsible, as he allowed his train to proceed south with only four minutes of time available rather than the five mandated by the timetable to clear a section of single track between Valley Falls and Pawtucket before a northbound train was due. The use of timetables and personal watches to avoid accidents, instead of a proper railroad signaling system, was also found to be unsafe. Following the collision, the Providence and Worcester Railroad installed double track on its mainline to prevent another collision from occurring. A coordinated railroad time was mandated in wake of the wreck, forming the first time zone in the United States. The collision is believed to be the first to ever be photographed.