1938
Montana Flood Causes Train Wreck
On this day in 1938, a flood in Montana kills 46 people and
seriously injures more than 60 when it washes out train tracks.
Custer Creek is a small winding river that runs through 25 miles
of the Great Plains on its way to the Yellowstone River. Minor streams like
Custer Creek are prone to flash floods because their small capacity can quickly
and easily be exceeded during heavy rains.
On the evening of June 19, a track walker was sent out to check
the rail lines near Custer Creek in Terry, Montana. He reported dry conditions
and no problems with the tracks. However, within just a few hours, a sudden
downpour overwhelmed Custer Creek. A bridge used by trains was washed out, and
when the Olympian Special came through, it went crashing into the raging waters
with no warning.
Two sleeper cars were buried in the muddy waters. A pitch-black
night on the Great Plains made rescue efforts extremely difficult and 46 people
lost their lives. The rear cars stayed above the water, but scores of
passengers were seriously injured. They could not be evacuated until the
following morning.