On this day in Jamaican History: Kendal Railway Tragedy
kendal train crash - national library of jamaica
Kendal railway tragedy – Photo source National Library of Jamaica

On September 1, 1957, Jamaica’s worst railway tragedy occurred when a wooden body train carrying 1,600 passengers derailed near the town of Kendal killing 175 passengers and injuring over 800. It was the second worst rail disaster in the world at that time. It was the worst transport accident in Jamaica’s history.