In its history, New York City has seen its fair share of accidents, disasters, and catastrophes. Some have been man-made, while others were the work of Mother Nature. These events have, over time, altered and shaped the city and its citizens.

Subway construction and operation is and has always been a complicated undertaking. Accidents happen, either through human error or mechanical failure. This collection looks at some of the transit system's early mishaps. 🚆💥

Trailer #100 and Car #725 in Malbone Street Tunnel, November 2, 1918. On November 1, 1918 the worst transit disaster in New York City history occurred just outside the eastern edge of Prospect Park. Just below the intersection of Flatbush Avenue, Ocean Avenue, and Malbone Street (now Empire Boulevard) a five-car wooden train on the B.R.T Brighton Beach line took a sharp turn at a speed more than five times faster than it was meant to travel. The first car derailed and smashed into a concrete partition and the second and third cars scraped violently against the tunnel walls. In all about 100 people were killed, and more than 250 passengers were injured in this rush hour crash. A number of factors played into this disaster. The sharp curve in the tunnel, known as "Dead Man's Curve" even before this accident, was a result of a multi-year rerouting of I.R.T and B.R.T lines. The motorman, Edward Luciano, was an inexperienced driver who usually served as a dispatcher, but was pushed into service by a motorman's strike. He was also suffering from the flu, was on a double shift, and had only the week before lost a child to influenza. Malbone Street was soon renamed Empire Boulevard, to distance it from the tragedy.