The story was probably inspired by the real-life disappearance of Engine 115 on Sept. 22, 1892 in Lindal, a little north of the locale of "The Lost Special".  Adapted many times in various media, this story also provided some of the basis for the TV serial "Lost" and the graphic novel "Watchmen", and is slyly alluded to by both.  See http://users.bestweb.net/~robgood/teach for the analysis of "Lost".  So far every single adaptation I've found that was earlier than "Lost", including this one, was alluded to on "Lost" by whatever details differentiated it fromm the original -- in this case the explosion of the engine in the mine, reflected as the airliner engine's explosion on the beach.