Chuck Spinner is the author of The Tragedy at the Loomis Street Crossing (http://www.napervilletrainwreck.com). The book tells the forgotten story of the worst disaster in the history of the Burlington Railroad. On April 25, 1946 the Exposition Flyer rammed into the back of the Advance Flyer at the Loomis Street crossing in Naperville, Illinois. The crash resulted in the loss of 45 lives.
Because World War II had just ended, no one wanted to talk about the horrors of war and no one wanted to talk about the horrors they saw at the crash site. Also, no one from Naperville was among the victims. Had 45 people from Naperville lost their lives, there would have been all sorts of books, articles, and monuments created in memory of the victims and the rescuers. None of these things existed until Chuck's book.
This book took five years of painstaking research. The author has written the stories of all 45 victims. He's interviewed the only two surviving eye witnesses of the crash. He's talked with rescue workers and with some of those injured in the wreck.
On Friday, February 15th, 2013 at 7pm Spinner will be giving a talk at the First Lutheran Church in Jamestown, New York (120 Chandler Street, Jamestown, New York). The power point presentation will be sponsored by the Jamestown Independent Railroaders. There is no admission charge and everyone is welcome. Please check out the book's website (http://www.napervilletrainwreck.com) for further details on the book. Please feel free to leave your comments on the book's blog site.``Books will be available to be purchased, inscribed, and signed after the talk. .
Jamestown, New York has much to offer. The Erie-Lackawanna Railroad station has recently been remodeled and is opened. Jamestown is also home to the Roger Tory Peterson Museum, the Robert H. Jackson Museum, the Lucille Ball Museum, and the Audubon Museum. The weekend of the 15th is also when Mayville will be hosting the Ice Castle Festival! As a special treat during January and February, sleigh rides are given each weekend at the world famous Chautauqua Institution.
Come to Jamestown for the Friday talk and stay and enjoy everything our lake has to offer!
Questions? Call 716-763-6211.
Hope to see you on the 15th!