1970 Branford derailment

The 1970 Branford derailment was a freight train derailment in the town of Branford, Connecticut on March 22, 1970.

At approximately 8 A.M, a 86-car westbound freight train traveling approximately 50 mph derailed going near the then-current Branford Station and the Malleable Iron Fittings Company. An overheated axle had burst on on a car carrying 83 tons of steel, the weight of this car took the following 24 cars off With It. Half of the cars on the 86 car freight train were empty at the time, including a tank car designated to be carrying Styrene. At the time, Branford Station was a single passenger shed, which was completely demolished. A replacement for the station was not created until Amtrak took over passenger service from Penn Central. A half mile of the westbound track (Track 1) was torn up, and traffic for that day was blocked in both directions. Despite the damage, full service in both directions was open the next day, Monday, March 23.