On This Date in Minnesota History: September 24

September 24, 1912 – Traveling at a speed of about 40 miles an hour down a steep grade, the bare truck of a freight car, near the front of the Plainview branch of the regular mixed Northwestern train, became defective and derailed the car. It carried with it five other box cars and two passenger coaches and tore up the rails for fully 600 feet.

The engine and two box cars just behind it remained on the track, but three of the cars turned completely over and the passenger coaches were thrown at right angles with the roadbed. One passenger, Henry Engl of Elgin, was injured, but will probably recover.

The accident took place three miles south of Plainview, about 2 p.m. today. The train was bound for Eyota, and had reached the grade and was making fast time, when it crossed a high bridge.

It had barely cleared the bridge when the truck on the second car behind the engine apparently tore loose and derailed the car and the others behind it. The escape of all but one of the 20 passengers is considered miraculous.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Wreck near Plainview. One Hurt When Mixed Train on Northwestern Jumps Track.”; September 25, 1912; p. 1.

http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Plainview.htm

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