On This Date in Minnesota History: October 23

October 23, 1907 – The Oriental Limited, the Great Northern coast train that left St. Paul this morning, was wrecked in Moorhead, Minn., this evening at 6:30.

The engine mail car, baggage car and smoker had passed over the Eighth Street switch when an unknown person was seen to throw the switch, throwing the day coach, colonists’ sleeper and front trucks of the dining care from the track.

The train was just pulling out of the depot, so it fortunately had gained little speed and was quickly stopped. Outside of a general shaking up, no one was injured. The equipment was badly damaged and the tracks torn up for a considerable distance causing several hours delay.

Daily Post and Record; “Attempts to Ditch Train. Wrecker at Moorhead, Minn. Throws Great Northern Switch.”; Rochester, Minn.; October 24, 1907; p. 1.

Moorhead, Minn., Great Northern Depot
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