The Meldrim trestle disaster occurred at Meldrim, Georgia on June 28, 1959. Involved was a Seaboard Air Line mixed freight train that derailed over the Ogeechee River. Loaded LPG tank cars from the train plunged into the river below and ruptured. The resulting explosion and fire killed 23 people.[1]
The derailment was caused by the movement of rails on the trestle, as they were compressed by the moving train.[1]
An ICC investigation faulted the railroad for not installing guard rails along the trestle, which might have helped to keep the derailed equipment on the trestle deck, minimizing the risk of a hazardous materials release.[1]
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