Investigating the Ashtabula Train Disaster Location

On June 4, 2025, we made the quarter-mile hike back to the location of the Ashtabula Train Disaster. It was a wonderful adventure and a location that has been on our bucket list for some time.

We have attempted to cover this location in the past when we created a blog post about the Ashtabula train disaster and the Chestnut Grove Cemetery; however, we never created a video about the topic and the location. With a little bit of research and the assistance of Google Maps, we were able to determine that you are able to hike a quarter of a mile back on the Indian Trail in Ashtabula to the actual location of the disaster. With that in mind, we headed out on our adventure to find the disaster location.

To get to the location, you want to go to Indian Trails Park in Ashtabula, Ohio. There is a small parking lot at the head of the trail. Entering the park, you will see a placard showing information about the train disaster.

The hike down the trail is a simple walk. The trail is mostly flat and runs alongside the river. About halfway back to the location, there is a sign in the shape of an arrow marking the location and pointing towards the disaster site. The trail itself is flat and covered in mulch. There's a lot of wildlife along the way. Although we had some unusually high temperatures in the mid-80s, the walk along the trail was extremely comfortable due to the tree canopy covering it.

Investigating the Ashtabula Train Disaster Location

After we arrived at the disaster location, we spent some time in the area under the bridge. We saw the wreckage of the bridge and other objects in the water after we had acclimated to the surroundings. While we were under the bridge, we continuously operated the Ovilus as we explored and investigated the area.

After we left the area, we headed over to the Ashtabula Medical Center. When we previously visited the site, we found a memorial that featured an audio recording about the train disasters. We couldn't find this anymore on this trip, but we had the audio recording from before, so we added that to our investigation video.

We also found out that there are some paranormal claims at the medical center. If you would like to find out more about the history and paranormal information for this location, please visit the page on PANICd.com about the Ashtabula Medical Center.

From the medical center, we headed over to Chestnut Grove Cemetery to pay our respects to those who lost their lives during the disaster. The cemetery houses a mass grave containing 18-22 individuals whose full identities were unknown at the disaster site. There is also a memorial located here at the grave site. We read their names while investigating the site in our video.

When we were at Chestnut Grove the first time we visited, we did not fully realize the connection between the Collins mausoleum and the train diaster. As it turns out, the mausoleum is for Charles Collins. Mr. Collins was the railroad engineer responsible for the inspection of the rail lines and the bridge that collapsed. In reality, he is the one truly responsible for the disaster. He did not design the bridge; that was Amasa Stone, who is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland. Both gentlemen died from suicide after the investigations. The official ruling confirms that Charles Collins' death was a suicide, despite some arguing otherwise. There are paranormal claims around the mausoleum, which we discuss in our investigation video.

Marianne did some forensic photography of the mosuleum. It does have some intricate details and is very impressive.

Investigation Video

Our video below will guide you to all the locations associated with the Ashtabula Train Disaster. We start our journey at the Indian Trails Park in Ashtabula, Ohio. We then hike back to the disaster site, where we spend some time investigating the trail and the surrounding area. From there, we pay homage to the historical placard and visit the Ashtabula Medical Center, established as a result of the disaster. We then go to Chestnut Grove Cemetery to investigate the mass grave and the monument dedicated to the deceased. We end the video at Charles Collins' mausoleum, the engineer who oversaw the rails and bridge investigation, and discuss the paranormal activity reported there.

About the 1876 Train Disaster

The Ashtabula train disaster, a catastrophic event that significantly impacted American railway history, occurred in Ashtabula, Ohio. More precisely, the tragic incident occurred at the site of a bridge that spanned the Ashtabula River, a location that would become infamous due to the events of that fateful day. This bridge, known as the Ashtabula River Bridge, was a wooden structure that had been constructed in the 1860s and was part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway line. On December 29, 1876, the weather conditions were particularly treacherous due to heavy snowfall and icy conditions that affected both visibility and traction.

The train involved was a passenger train that was making its way from the east to the west, carrying a significant number of passengers who were returning home after the holiday season. The engineer and crew probably had no idea what a catastrophe awaited them as the train drew closer to the bridge. As the train crossed the bridge, it tragically derailed, leading to a catastrophic collapse of the iron and wooden structure. The train cars plummeted approximately 70 feet into the icy waters of the Ashtabula River below. The scene was one of chaos and devastation, as the impact of the fall caused many of the train cars to crumple and break apart, trapping passengers inside. Eyewitness accounts describe the immediate aftermath as horrific, with cries for help echoing through the cold air.

The Ashtabula train disaster stands out not only for the sheer scale of the tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of 92 individuals and injuries to many others, but also for the broader implications it had on railway safety regulations in the United States. Following the disaster, there was an increased awareness of the need for better engineering standards and safety measures for bridges and trains, as well as a push for more stringent inspections of railway infrastructure. This location, once a simple bridge crossing over a river, became a symbol of the vulnerabilities associated with early railway travel. The Ashtabula River Bridge itself was later rebuilt, but the memory of the disaster lingers in the annals of American history, serving as a reminder of the importance of safety in transportation and the tragic consequences that can arise from neglecting engineering standards. The site today may appear peaceful, but it is forever marked by the memories of those who lost their lives in one of the deadliest train accidents in American history.