Arkansas and Memphis who were coming to work at a gunpowder plant in Old Hickory, outside of Nashville. As many as 50,000 people came to the track that day to help rescue survivors, search for loved ones, or simply witness the tragic scene. In its official report, the ICC was harsh on the NC&StL. A combination of poor operating practices, human error and lax enforcement of operating rules led to the worst passenger train wreck in U.S. history. Had the tower operator properly left his signal at danger, had the conductor monitored his train's progress rather than entrusting it to a subordinate, or had the crew inspected the train register at Shops Junction as required, the accident would not have happened. The wreck provided the impetus for most railroads to switch to all-steel passenger cars. In the 1970s, songwriters Bobby Braddock and Rafe Van Hoy told the story of the trainwreck in the song "The Great Nashville Railroad Disaster (A True Story)". The song was recorded by country music singer David Allan Coe on his 1980 album I've Got Something to Say. The locomotives involved in the wreck, #281 and #282, were rebuilt in 1919 and continued in service throughout the two World Wars until their retirement in 1947 and 1948 respectively. After their retirement #281 was sold and scrapped in June 1948. #282 was also sold and scrapped in April 1949. None of their sisters, from #280 to #286, survive either. The track, now located of west of a hospital, is still in use. See also Lists of rail accidents Andria–Corato train collision, 2016 Italian wreck also caused by mistaking one train for another and failure to make sure a long section of single track was clear. References Further reading The Day the Whistles Cried: The Great Cornfield Meet at Dutchman's Curve Thorpe, Betsy. 2014. External links Text of 1918 local news story on the accident 2007 News article with links to audio recollections of witness to aftermath of the crash (Link inactive as of 13 Jun 2012) 1918 in Tennessee 20th century in Nashville, Tennessee Railway accidents and incidents in Tennessee Railway accidents in 1918 Transportation in Nashville, Tennessee Accidents and incidents involving Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway July 1918 events