Derailed Vows

By: David Erickson

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

In the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jason Jenkins was a young man in love with Emily Jones. He had planned to marry her in October, but Emily's family suddenly moved to Miami. Determined to be with his beloved, Jason boarded the eastbound Sunset Limited passenger train that fateful September day in 1993.

Little did he know that his journey would be fraught with tragedy. As the train approached the Big Bayou Canot Bridge near Mobile, Alabama, disaster struck. A barge collision caused the bridge to deform, derailing the train a few hours later, and plunged the locomotive, baggage car, and two passenger cars into the canal below. The resulting fire from the burst fuel tanks made it the deadliest Amtrak accident in history.

Jason was one of the 220 passengers on the train, and he was severely injured. He spent months in the Mobile hospital, with only Emily by his side. The wedding was postponed, but Emily's unwavering faith kept them both strong. Despite the pain and uncertainty, Jason knew God had a plan for him.

As Jason recovered, he and Emily had a makeshift wedding in the hospital. It was a small ceremony, but it was filled with love and faith. Eventually, they had a larger ceremony in Miami months later. Jason's whole family came to Jesus during this time, and they discovered he was to receive a settlement for the crash. With this newfound wealth, Jason and Emily took a glorious honeymoon in Alaska.

But their story didn't end there. Jason selflessly sent his parents and Emily on an extended vacation, knowing that they needed time to heal from all that had happened. He continued to trust God's plan for him, even when life seemed uncertain.

This Christian fiction novel is a tale of love, faith, and perseverance in the face of tragedy. It shows how God's light can shine through in our darkest moments. The Sunset Limited Amtrak accident in Alabama during the 1990s serves as a backdrop for Jason and Emily's journey, but it is their unwavering faith that truly drives the story.