One of the worst train disasters in Florida history occurred in Pineola on October 18, 1956, when two freight trains carrying perishables and dry goods collided head-on at 5:12 a.m. on a dark, foggy morning. Traveling full speed on the same track at 49 mph, the trains were unable to avoid catastrophe. After realizing the danger, Dunnellon Dispatcher Braddock phoned Croom Station agent Cooper and told him to investigate, and Cooper and fellow agent Thomas raced by car on an ungraded road to warn the engineers, but they did not arrive in time. When the northbound engineer saw the oncoming headlight, he applied emergency brakes and shouted for his assistants to brace for impact. Four engines and 16 cars derailed, fire engulfed the scene, and four crewmen were killed. Firefighters and hearses came from as far away as Tampa to help. The disaster might have been prevented if recently installed radios had been used, but engineers had agreed not to use them until they received additional pay as radio operators. Among the dead was Engineer B.J. Martin of No. 237, who had been a leader in that holdout. Those who lost their lives were Brakeman W.E. Snyder of No. 118, Section 2, Engineer B.J. Martin of No. 237, Fireman E.W. Vaughan of No. 237, and Brakeman J.L. Phillips of No. 237; Engineer Otis Bridges and Fireman William Hardee, Jr. were injured.