HAMILTON — Could a derailed O&W freight train have outflown an airplane? Yes indeed, recalls Art Zimmer of Hamilton. Zimmer was there to witness the aftermath of the September 1955 crash when a 213-ton train engine left elevated tracks, flying a greater distance than the Wright Brothers’ first flight, he said. And the train cars were hauling Nestle chocolate products, which were strewn across the hillside when it crashed down to the ground.
Zimmer, a teen at the time, recalled he left the site with full pockets, as did many other thrilled area residents young and old. That sweet crash will again be commemorated at 2 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 29 with the annual Great Hamilton Chocolate Train Wreck Celebration. Zimmer invites train, chocolate and history enthusiasts to the annual festivities to learn all about the incident.
Attendees should meet at 2 p.m. at the Historic Chocolate Train Wreck Park next to the Hamilton Fire Department, 121 Lebanon St.
A historian will offer a short talk about the chocolate train wreck and guests can view a display of photos from the incident there. The group will then walk down the 1,000 feet of the trail to the remains of the wreck site. There will be question and answer session about how it all happened and the unsolved mystery surrounding the crash.
Zimmer denies being the rascal who switched the tracks and caused the wreck. The Chocolate Train Wreck Celebration is owned and operated by Art Zimmer Productions. The crash site is owned by and in t.