This Weekend In History…

Great Train Wreck of 1918

July 9, 1918

Two trains collide head on near Nashville, Tenn., killing 101 people and injuring an additional 171. The two passenger trains had each been traveling at about 50-60 mph. It is considered the worst rail accident in U.S. history and was attributed to operator error.

July 10, 1985

After much public outcry and poor sales, Coca-Cola announces it is bringing back its original formula and calling it “Coca-Cola Classic.” The Coke flavor had been changed to New Coke less than three months earlier.

July 11, 1979

The 82-ton U.S. space station, Skylab, launched in 1973, crashes to earth. About 22 tons of it were expected to survive reentry prompting much public concern. However, it landed safely over the Indian Ocean and Australia. The Shire of Esperance in Western Australia fined NASA $400 for littering.