Ref: G5871
- £295.00
On January 4th 1887 the Boston & Albany train No 14 was behind schedule when it passed through Mittmeague Station, Springfield, when a wheel on the baggage car broke throwing the day coach and smoker car from the tracks. They immediately burst into flames, killing one person and injuring many more. The baggage car and express car were ‘burnt to cinders’ destroying the majority of the mail that was being carried. This badly charred 2c postal envelope from West Troy (JAN 3 1887) has a two line cachet ‘Damaged by R. R. accident / W. Springfield, M’s Jan 4 87’ This two line cachet is not recorded in Railway Disaster Mail by Hoggarth & Gwynn. They only mention a three line cachet. A rare cover from this wreck.
