Baileyville Illinois Freeport Area Train Wreck 1912 Real Photo Postcard

The derailment on the Illinois Central Railroad near Baileyville, Illinois, on February 16, 1912, represents a common yet hazardous aspect of early 20th-century American rail operations. During this era of rapid expansion and heavy usage, train accidents—often caused by mechanical failures, human error, or adverse track conditions—were a regrettable but frequent occurrence across the nation's vital railway networks, impacting both freight and passenger services.