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Ever feel like your life is completely off the rails? Like you’re stuck on a runaway train, heading full steam into a dead end, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it?

Take a deep breath. Today, Ed is flying solo while Kara takes a well-deserved vacation, and he is here to offer you the ultimate perspective shift to make you feel instantly better about your current situation.

Welcome to July 9, 1918. Imagine waking up early for a routine morning commute between Memphis and Nashville, only to find yourself on a blind turn known as "Dutchman's Curve." What followed was the deadliest head-on train collision in United States history—a catastrophic wreck that claimed over 101 lives, predominantly affecting African American workers on their way to a wartime munitions factory.

In this episode, Ed nerds out on the raw mechanics of steam engines, unpacks the downright terrifying safety standards that railroad workers faced daily, and breaks down the exact geography of the crash. But more importantly, he digs into a brand-new theory about the real culprit behind the disaster.

Spoiler alert: it’s not what the history books tell you.

So grab a notebook, prepare to learn a little bit of unexpected math, and wrap yourself in a blanket of gratitude. Things might be chaotic for you right now, but at least you aren't engineering a 1910s steam locomotive around a blind bend with zero radio communication.

Enjoyed this turn-of-the-century mess? Check out these classic Dumpster Fires on our website:

For more tech-driven chaos: Stream Connecting the Continents: The Transatlantic Telegraph Dumpster Fire - Episode 15 right now!

For history's most famous airborne disaster: Listen to Oh, the Humanity! The Hindenburg’s Fiery Final Flight - Episode 16 and see just how quickly things can vanish into thin air.

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If have ideas for future episodes that you want Kara and Ed to look into, email them at thedaysdumpsterfire@gmail.com. They would love to hear from you!

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Be sure to head on over to www.thedaysdumpsterfire.com for the ever growing library of historical dumpster fires.

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