The Great Waxhaw Train Wreck of 2010
One of the significant features of Waxhaw NC is the set of train tracks that splits the historic downtown down the middle. Beautiful old commercial buildings and Victorian homes rise above the tracks. 
A historic wooden bridge spanning the tracks at one end of the town offers a wonderful view of the town and its railroad.
In July of 2010, one of the trains that moves through Waxhaw wrecked just outside the downtown area. Six grain cars derailed and closed Highway 75, the main arterial through the town. Luckily no one was hurt but businesses, neighborhoods and town officials had to work together with the railroad to re-open the street.
Drive through downtown Waxhaw today and you’ll see a sculpture that commemorates this spirit of cooperation after the great train wreck of 2010. Located beside the tracks at Jackson Street and North Main Street, the 3000 pound sculpture is named “Getting Back on Track”. It was created by local artist Tom Risser from steel, wood and plastic. He collected scrap from the site of the wreck to incorporate into the sculpture.
The figures silhouetted against the Carolina blue sky represent the workers and townspeople who were at the scene of the wreck. Look carefully at the yellow railroad sign in the center. Instead of rXr, Risser changed the sign to wXw to stand for Waxhaw.
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Copyright 2011. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *The Great Waxhaw Train Wreck of 2010*
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