SOLANA BEACH — Two tragic events, 68 years apart, brought national attention to this peaceful city and Del Mar.

On New Year’s Eve 1940, a freight train plunged over the cliff at the foot of Ninth Street in the Surfside City taking the lives of the fireman, engineer and another crewmember. More recently, a white shark attacked a seasoned swimmer near Fletcher Cove.

News reports of the events differed greatly.

It being New Year’s Eve, the San Diego Union was on short staff and missed the train wreck story altogether even though it occurred around 8 p.m.

The Los Angeles Times did carry a comprehensive account after being alerted by a 10th Street resident. There was no TV news (no TV for that matter) and most radio stations signed off at 10 o’clock after the Richfield news, which was usually prepared hours earlier and read by whoever was on duty.

In contrast, the recent Solana Beach tragedy was telecast across the country and throughout the world as the attempted rescue of the swimmer was taking place. Twenty-four hour TV and radio news crews were on the scene almost immediately. Transmission trucks with their high antennas were everywhere — no permits needed. New York stations gave visual reports pre-empting regular news.

The train wreck brought hundreds of looky-loos when people heard about it during broadcasts of the Pasadena Rose Parade and football game, but instead of media trucks, food and beverage wagons did brisk business on Ninth and 10th streets. For most of the day, people were able to see the three victims still in the cab of the locomotive.

In Solana Beach, only scores of rescue officials were seen as well as a panoramic view of the calm and peaceful ocean, but no sight of the white shark that saddened everyone from sea to shining sea.