What was the name of the 1918 New York City Subway accident at a Brooklyn curve?
Answer
Malbone Street wreck
The 1918 New York City Subway accident at a Brooklyn curve was the Malbone Street wreck.
The wreck occurred on November 1, 1918, near the Malbone Street tunnel in the Prospect Park area of Brooklyn. A Brooklyn Rapid Transit train derailed while negotiating a sharp curve at high speed. Two wooden cars were destroyed, and the accident killed at least 93 people, making it one of the deadliest events in New York transit history.
The location was later associated with Empire Boulevard, and the station nearby is now known as Prospect Park. The tragedy led to major scrutiny of operating practices, train construction, and the qualifications of motormen.
The event is sometimes called the Brighton Beach Line disaster because the train was traveling on that route. However, the established historical name is the Malbone Street wreck, taken from the street beside the accident site.