In January 1853, Wheeling, West Virginia was officially connected by rail by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which was the first time that the ports of the Atlantic Ocean were connected by rail to the Ohio River valley.

[2] On March 27, 1853, around 3 o'clock, P.M.,[3] a two-engine train carrying four cars (three of which were full of passengers) departed from Wheeling was crossing the bridge over the Cheat River.

As the train passed over the already-loose crossties, the nails holding the beams in place detached.

The passenger coaches, which were made of wood at the time, proved to be weaker and would shatter and splinter in severe accidents; this combined with the spilled coals started a fire, further trapping passengers already caught in the disaster.

[2] This was the first time in the history of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad that passengers perished as the result of an accident.