NORFOLK SOUTHERN STRING DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE IS NOT THE FIRST IN THE SMALL VILLAGE. 50 YEARS AGO, THE AMTRAK BROADWAY LTD DERAILED IN EAST PALESTINE. ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE WERE INJURED. IT JUMPED, TRACKED AND THEN TOURISM BUILDINGS DOWN. THE GAS STATION UP RIGHT IN TOWN HERE, RIGHT AT THE RAILROAD CROSSING. DR. JOHN CORN REMEMBERS IT VERY WELL. HE IS A RETIRED FAMILY PHYSICIAN WHO OWNS THE BUILDING FOR EAST PALESTINE. FIRST HEALTH CLINIC THAT OPENED YESTERDAY. A CORONER IS NOW RETIRED, BUT HE LEASES THE BUILDING TO EAST LIVERPOOL CITY HOSPITAL TO RUN THE CLINIC. BUT 50 YEARS AGO, THE DERAILMENT HAPPENED ONE BLOCK FROM HIS HOUSE DURING A BLIZZARD. HE WAS CALLED AT 3 A.M. WHEN THEY CALLED IN TO HERE. WE DECIDED, WELL, WE’LL DO WHAT WE CAN. AND THEN THAT’S WHEN THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PUT THE PATIENTS OTHER THAN THE FIRE STATION. SO THEY BROUGHT HIM RIGHT HERE AT THE AT 139 NORTH WALNUT. AND 50 YEARS LATER, ANOTHER DISASTER IN EAST PALESTINE
February's derailment in East Palestine was not the first for the village
Updated: 9:28 PM EDT Apr 11, 2023
When Norfolk Southern rail cars went off the tracks in East Palestine, Ohio this year, it wasn't the first time the community was rocked by a derailment.Fifty years ago, the Amtrak Broadway Limited derailed in East Palestine. One person was killed and more than a dozen people were injured."It jumped track and then tore some buildings down, took a gas station out, right in town here, right at the railroad crossing," resident Dr. John Koren said.Listen to Koren talk about this experience in the video player above.Koren is now retired, but leases his office building to East Liverpool City Hospital. It is used as a clinic.Fifty years ago, the derailment happened one block from his office during a blizzard."When they called into here, we decided we'll do what we can," Koren said. "There was no place to put the patients other than the fire station, so they brought them right here at 139 N. Walnut."
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — When Norfolk Southern rail cars went off the tracks in East Palestine, Ohio this year, it wasn't the first time the community was rocked by a derailment.
Fifty years ago, the Amtrak Broadway Limited derailed in East Palestine. One person was killed and more than a dozen people were injured.
"It jumped track and then tore some buildings down, took a gas station out, right in town here, right at the railroad crossing," resident Dr. John Koren said.
Listen to Koren talk about this experience in the video player above.
Koren is now retired, but leases his office building to East Liverpool City Hospital. It is used as a clinic.
Fifty years ago, the derailment happened one block from his office during a blizzard.
"When they called into here, we decided we'll do what we can," Koren said. "There was no place to put the patients other than the fire station, so they brought them right here at 139 N. Walnut."