Redondo Junction train accident
On January 22, 1956, at about 5:42 pm, a Santa Fe Railroad train derailed at Redondo Junction in Los Angeles, near Boyle Heights and the Los Angeles River. The two Budd RDC cars, running as part of the San Diegan service between Los Angeles and San Diego, left Union Station full of passengers. The curved junction had a speed limit of 15 mph, but the RDCs arrived at the junction much faster than allowed. Investigators later estimated the train was traveling about 69 mph at derailment.
The train tipped onto its left side and slid, sparking as it went dark. Thirty people were killed and 117 were injured. Emergency crews and the LAPD quickly responded, and the scene attracted crowds and heavy traffic. KTLA began live coverage within an hour, with floodlights donated by nearby movie studios to illuminate the wreck.
The two cars involved were DC191 and DC192. The engineer, 61-year-old Frank Parrish, admitted sole responsibility for the accident but said he blacked out; no charges were filed, and he retired early from the railroad. After repairs, the cars were returned to service outside California, later serving on the El Pasoan between Albuquerque and El Paso. DC191 survived and, as of 2009, was being restored by the Pacific Railroad Society.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:40 (CET).