I am posting a report regarding the
Dutchman's Curve
presentation offered by railroad historian
Terry Coats to a group of Federal
Employee Retirees,in Nasvhille Tennessee on Tuesday
August 5th, 2008.

Terry Coats is very knowlegable on the Dutchman's
Curve train wreck and we ( the Dutchman's Curve Project
Team) are happy that he is sharing the
story with the public and we are fortunate that he continues to assist us
with our research.

Nashville Tennessee, August 5,2008

NC&St.L Preservation Society VP, Terry L. Coats was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Nashville Association of Federal Employee Retirees. The meeting was held at the Hermitage United Methodist Church on Lebanon Road.

Mr. Coats, a local railroad historian, spoke to the group of about 50 on the subject, the "Worst Passenger Train Accident in American History".

The group of lively seniors listened intently as Mr. Coats described the events leading up to the accident and about the carnage in the aftermath of the collision of two NC&St.L locomotives.

After Mr. Coats' presentation, the group held the speaker for another 30 minutes during a question and answer session.

Today I spoke at the weekly meeting of
the Bellevue History and Genealogy Club.
They meet every Friday at the Bellevue
YMCA.

I was invited to speak by club leader Bob Allen.
Bob is writing a book on Bellevue History.

Today was my first experience speaking from
a podium. I was surprised by the security
it offered me. Something to hold on to...

I showed excerpts of our film, and recieved
some good comments, especially regarding
the music by John Wendell. John is doing
an outstanding job in creating the soundtrack
for our movie and I am pleased that early
viewers are taking note.

I had the pleasure of meeting Patricia
Knapp today. She is a member of the club
and she was one of the first
to contact me when I began researching
Dutchman's Curve. She wrote a poem about
the accident in 1984. She read her poem
for the group. I will be posting it on
Dutchmanscurve.com soon.

History Bill recently added the Dutchman's
Curve story to the Tennessee History for
Kids web site. The web site is used by Tennessee's public schools and by parents
who home school.

The addition of the story to Tennessee
History for Kids fulfills our goal of presenting the Dutchman's Curve story
to Tennessee school children.

Thank you History Bill!

Terry Coats with Bellevue Rotary Club: Loveless Cafe, July 16, 2008
Early in the morning on Wednesday July 16, Terry
Coats and I joined the Bellevue Rotary for breakfast.
We were their featured speakers. I talked about the
Dutchman's Curve Project and Terry related the
history of the Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis
Railway.

We were invited to speak by Rotary member Arthur
McKew. I first met Mr. McKew at our marker dedication
and reception.

It was my first visit to the Loveless Cafe and I
must say the biscuits are very good and the
the Loveless Cafe has a nostalgic ambiance,
that brought to mind vacations
I took with my family when I was a child.

It was a pleasant morning.

Personal note to Rotary President Lisa Cummings......
I hope you bring your weekly Rotary meeting back to
Shoney's. We have missed you'all on Wednesday
mornings.

I am happy to announce that Kim Hoover agreed to
be my research assistant. I met Kim on July 9, 2007
at the gathering on the Old White Bridge.

In February Kim provided me with information on
John J Nolan and has continued to help me.

Most recently Kim uncovered a great deal of information
on the family of Daniel Timmons and has visited and
photographed his grave and headstone.

Kim is a "Cradle Catholic" employed at St. Cecelia's
Academy. She spends her free time chasing the ghosts
of Confederate Soldiers, Catholics and family members.
She can now add the People of Dutchman's Curve to
that list.

We are fortunate to work with her.

I would like to thank:

Shoney's Company for their
support.

Shoney's Marketing Team Leader,Juan Gipson for hosting the dinner on the eighth of
July and for his help at the reception on the ninth
of July.

Mohd Fareneh manager of Shoney's Resturant in Bellevue
for providing wonderful food for our dinner party.

Sister Catherine Marie for inviting us to the White House.

Tim Rayburn for allowing us to use the multi-purpose
room at Mary Queen of Angels.

Mac McGee for the great food at the reception.

Kroger in Belle Meade for giving us flowers to leave
at the graves of Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Nolan.

Darrel Hall at O'Charley's on White Bridge Road
for the great lunch.

My friend John for creating the Dedication and
Reception program.

Paula Underwood Winters, Editor of the Westview
newspaper for getting the word out on my project
and this event.

My good friend Carrie Climer
for being a gracious and enthusiastic hostess.

Kim Hoover for everything!

THIS WAS WRITTEN FOR THE JULY 16 EDITION OF THE
WESTVIEW NEWSPAPER

The dedication of the Dutchman's Curve Historic
Marker on July 9th, 2008 was attended by more than seventy guests including railroad journalist Ralcon Wagner. The placement of the historic marker in June of 2008 was especially significant to Mr. Wagner. In 1978 Wagner contacted the Metro Historical
Commission to establish a marker commemorating the train wreck at Dutchman's Curve.

The Metro Historical Commission was founded in 1966 to "preserve, protect, and document the history, historic places, buildings and neighborhoods of Davidson County" and they considered Mr. Wagner's
proposal to erect a
Metro marker to preserve the accident site. In spite of the Commission's interest in placing a marker near Dutchman's Curve, funding for the marker was not available in 1978.

The Dutchman's Curve Project was formed in 2007 and thanks to interest in West Nashville history generated by the creation
of the Richland Creek Greenway and the support of the local community the DCP succeeded
in their mission to establish a Historic Marker on White Bridge Road near the entrance
to the Greenway.

The marker dedication and reception, hosted by Shoney's Company and The Dutchman's Curve
Project was attended by Belle Meade residents Ed and Hettie Stuart, as well as Katherine Timmons Stoner
and Betsy Timmons of Bellevue. Several elected officials were present including Senator Douglas Henry,
Council Members Jason Holleman, Emily Evans and Vic Lineweaver. Carrie Climer was the reception's hostess
and Shoney's Marketing Team Leader ( and former Bellevue Shoney's manager) Juan Gipson offered a prayer
of remembrance for the victims and their families.

In attendance were several special guests; Patrick Nolan of Leesburg Virginia, Pat Nolan of Nashville Tennessee,
Denise Nolan of Redondo Beach California, Nan Cross of Springfield Oregon, Doug and Molly Bates of
Centerville Tennessee, David Ewing, Terry and Jane Coats, Brownie Spicer, Kim Hoover and Ruby and
Tyria Thorpe.

Pre-production excerpts from the movie "Dutchman's Curve Nashville's Story" were shown throughout
the reception's program with comments by the movies videographer and editor Cyndea Wendell.

The film, is being produced by Jam Tart Productions and Woofer and Tweeter Productions and is a joint project of the
Bellevue Harpeth Historic Association and the Dutchman's Curve Project. Dolly Carter and Evelyn Underwood- Miles and other members of the BHHA were present for the viewing. Also in attendance
was the film's narrator and music producer, John Wendell.

The morning's featured speakers, David Ewing and Douglas Bates both addressed the racial binds and divisions that complicate the story of Dutchman's Curve.
David Ewing stated that the train wreck was a "perfect storm of mistakes", compounded by "overcrowding
and miserable conditions in the Jim Crow cars" and Douglas
Bates called the tale of Dutchman's Curve " a true Southern Story".

Impromptu speaker, former
NC&StL engineer Brownie Spicer shared stories of Nashville's railroad. Mr. Spicer drove Engine 576
until September of 1953 when it was retired and donated to the Citizens of Nashville. The engine
was placed in Centennial Park where it still stands.

The dedication and reception were held in the second floor multi-purpose room at Mary Queen of Angels.
Use of the room was donated by Tim Rayburn and the
food and beverages were provided by Mac McGee.

Following the speakers and the video presentations, railroad historian Terry Coats accompanied interested
guests to the room's adjoining screened porch, to view the train wrecks point of impact. In May of 2008
Mr. Coats photographed the accident
site on a flight piloted by Bellevue aviation instructor Joe Loftis. Mr. Coat's aerial photograph showing
the location of the head on collision is available for viewing at dutchmanscurve.com.

Family members of accident victims, Daniel Cliff Timmons, Douglas Thompson Bates, Willis Manning Farris
and John Joseph Nolan spent quiet moments together reflecting on the tragedy that altered the course
of their families history. Willis Farris, son of Alfred and Carnie Farris, and great grandson of one of
the accidents oldest victims recalled how his grandfather with his three brothers carried the body
of their father, Willis Manning Farris up the banks of nearby Richland Creek on July 9, 1918.

As the guests were leaving the reception one commented that the day was truly a day of remembrance,
and that he would carry that remembrance of the past with him as he looked toward his future. The organizers
of the day's events could not ask for better parting words.

Dinner guests
(click image for
larger view) On Tuesday, July 8, 2008 a dinner hosted by Shoney's Company and St. Cecelia's Academy was attended by twenty-six guests, including former NC&Stl railroad engineer Brownie Spicer.
The dinner was held in the historic White House at
St. Cecilia's Academy. In 1918 the White House was home
to the Warner family. Dutchman's Curve was in their
"back yard". As we gathered in the main dining room
and looked out the large windows,
we pondered the tragedy that unfolded
on the morning of July 9, 1918.

After hearing the collision, the household was probably
stunned by the chaos that erupted on their property.
Dazed and injured people knocking on the door.
Rescue workers requiring water, ice and blankets.
The curious swarming everywhere.
Was a make-shift hospital set up in the great room?
How many people from the house ran to the site?

As I looked around the room at members of the Bates, Farris,
Nolans and Timmons families I thought of their relatives
dying so close to the big house. Did family members
and friends pass by the White House looking for lost loved ones?

As we shared our stories over dinner I experienced
a quiet moment of oneness with the past, and a deep and
humbling knowledge, that by some unusual twist of fate, we were all selected to come together

and participate in a preordained act of remembrance.

My mom, Nan Cross introduces herself

Sister Catherine Marie, David Ewing, Douglas Bates III, Molly Bates, and Jane Coats

Chapel at the Mother HouseWhat a day! My mother and I met Kim Hoover
and Denise and Patrick Nolan at the Dutchman's Curve Marker site. Kim works at Saint Cecilia's Academy and was instrumental in locating the family of John J Nolan. Mr. Nolan was an NC&StL engineer who died at Dutchman's Curve.
Denise Nolan and Patrick Nolan
Denise Nolan lives in Redondo Beach, California and her brother Patrick lives in Leesburg, Virginia.

We spent the morning at Saint Cecilia's Mother House where we were privileged to have a private tour given Sister Marion. The tour was special to the Nolan's because their beloved Aunt Angela graduated from Saint Cecilia's in 1916.

We also visited the grave of Mr. Nolan. He is buried in the Nolan family plot at Calvary Cemetery.

I have not yet absorbed the perfection of yesterday's events and today's Dedication.
I need time to process my thoughts.

I am posting a report from Terry Coats

*************************************************

It is 9:00 PM, July 9, 2008 in Nashville Tennessee. At about this time of night 90 years ago a wreck crew of the Nashville Chattanooga &St. Louis Railway finished clearing the tracks after an accident that occurred earlier in the day.

Fourteen hours before, at about 7:20 AM, the worst passenger train accident in American history occurred at a set of tracks called Dutchman's Curve, 4 1/2 miles west of Nashville. The wreck crew with the help of a 160 ton crane, (normally stationed 2 miles east of the wreck site at the company's "Shops"), cleared the tracks so the regularly scheduled night train to Memphis could make its way past the carnage.

Railroad Wrecking Crane

The site must have been horrendous. About one hundred and thirty people, forty of whom were NC&St.L employees were killed when two NC&St.L 4-6-0 Pacific's hit head on at a combined speed of one hundred miles per hour.

The sound of the collision was heard more than two miles away. It was reported that between ten
thousand and thirty thousand people came to either participate in the rescue and clean up, or to just look at the aftermath of the day.

A subsequent Interstate Commerce Commission investigation would conclude that the engineer and conductor of the Memphis bound train were at fault for not yielding to the superior Nashville bound train.

In June of 2008 a historic marker commemorating the wreck was placed on
White Bridge Road, in Nashville near Dutchman's Curve. The marker was dedicated today on the nintieh annversary of the Great Nashville Rail Disaster.More than seventy people attended the dedication. Among those present today were descendants of victims, and rescue workers,as well as local historians and State and City elected officials.

May those who lost their lives at Dutchman's Curve on July 9, 1918 rest in peace.

Terry L. Coats-VP
NC&StL Preservation Society

More information on the Dutchman's Curve train wreck is available at http://www.dutchmanscurve.com

Terry Coats is a railroad historian specializing in the history of Nashville's railroad, the NC&StL Railway.
For more information on the NC&StL visit http://www.nc&stl.com

Mr. Coats lives near Nashville and is currently writing a book titled " Depots and Other Structures of the NC&St.L Railway."