I vividly remember the day the derailed propane tank car exploded in Waverly, TN. It was February 24, 1978. The explosion and resulting fire destroyed downtown, killed sixteen, and permanently injured dozens. Medical helicopters from nearby Ft. Campbell Army Base flew the wounded to hospitals in Nashville and Memphis. Tragically, the town's Fire Chief and Chief of Police were both killed, as was the crane operator righting the derailed cars. Two local fireman and several L&N workers perished, as did one high school student who happened to be downtown. Two LP transport specialists waiting to transfer the propane from the tanker to their trucks also lost their lives in the blast.
I went through Waverly a week or so after this tragedy and the devastation had to be seen to be understood. Today this transfer caboose marks the spot where the LP tanker exploded and houses a small museum dedicated to the disaster.
