FreightWaves Classics is sponsored by Old Dominion Freight Line — Helping the World Keep Promises. Learn more here.
As 2023 comes to a close, so does the inaugural year of the Tracks Through Time podcast.
The podcast is an audiovisual version of the history-focused FreightWaves Classics column, spotlighting interesting and lesser-known stories in history. We’ve had so much fun bringing you these stories all year and can’t wait to share more in 2024!
To close out the year, we’ve compiled a list of the most loved episodes of 2023. Here is the list in no particular order.
Deadliest US bridge collapse has mysterious folklore
The Silver Bridge collapse is popular in relation to unique folklore but it also completely changed how we look at safety regulations for bridges. Hear the story of the collapse and the folklore surrounding it. Then get an inside look at the story with West Virginia DOT’s Tracy W. Brown, a state bridge engineer.
The tragic crash of a US Navy airship
In 1933, a total of 75 U.S. Navy members lost their lives when airship USS Akron crashed and sank in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Jersey. Brielle Jaekel is joined by Naval History and Heritage Command’s Caroline Johnson, who tells us the story of the fateful incident.
How 1 girl stopped a railroad disaster and saved 200 lives
Kate Shelley became a hero at 17 years old when she went through extreme measures to save a passenger train from certain disaster in 1881.
The Suez Canal crisis of 1956: A pivotal moment in shipping history
A crisis over the Suez Canal put Egypt at odds against France, Britain and Israel. The story has surprising twists and unexpected secret motives. Find out how this shaped the future of shipping routes and globalization.
The supply chain of bathtub gin and bootlegging
Prohibition might have made the production and sale of alcohol in the United States illegal, but that doesn’t mean Americans put down the bottle. The supply chain for alcoholic beverages flourished during the ban but in a completely different way.
Lost cargo: The mystery of Flight 19
In December 1945, five U.S. Navy Avenger bombers took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a routine mission known as Flight 19. Their mission was simple: navigate to various points in the Atlantic Ocean and then return to base. However, this seemingly routine exercise turned into one of the most baffling mysteries in aviation history.
Lessons from the inferno: The Texas City disaster
In 1947, tragedy struck the port in Texas City, Texas, when a French ship carrying highly flammable fertilizer caught fire and caused devastation to the port town. But the lessons learned from the incident likely saved lives in the years following.
Truck driver’s vanishing act: The Devin Williams story
In this compelling episode, we examine the perplexing 1995 disappearance of truck driver Devin Williams. In the deep woods of Arizona’s Tonto National Forest on Memorial Day weekend, Williams’ 10-ton semi-truck careened through the woods, narrowly missing unsuspecting campers, and then vanished without a trace.
How Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade logistics worked for almost 100 years
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has gotten bigger and bigger every year since 1924, but how can such a big logistics program be pulled off year after year? This episode dives into how it works throughout the years.
Find out how the Rockefeller Christmas tree is transported year after year
Did you know there’s one company that always handles delivering the tree for Christmas to Rockefeller Plaza in New York? Find out about the history of its logistics and the process of picking the tree in this episode.
FreightWaves Classics articles look at various aspects of the transportation industry’s history. Subscribe to our newsletter!
Have a topic you want us to cover? Email [email protected].