On June 23, 1900, Southern Railway’s No. 7 train came bustling down the tracks, just south of Atlanta, Georgia, toward the Camp Creek trestle. The train had recently left Macon, Georgia, early that evening, but by the time the train reached McDonough just before 10 p.m., the weather had worsened. Passengers onboard began to complain about traveling in such poor conditions that engineer J.T. Sullivan reportedly said, “We’ll be having breakfast in Atlanta or Hell,” in response to the nervous passengers onboard.
As the train crossed a washed-out bridge at the Camp Creek trestle, it plummeted 60 feet and burst into flames, resulting in 35 deaths of the 45 aboard.
Heavy rains of the last two weeks had washed the bridge’s brick support away, causing the bridge to collapse under the weight of the train.
Some believe their spirits still linger in the area.
Written By John G. Clark Jr.
