Time Machine: Passenger train derailed in Eastern Iowa in 1959

Milwaukee Road’s Arrow missed its mark near Atkins in Benton County

Five of the seven derailed units of the Milwaukee passenger train, the Arrow, are shown in this picture taken early in the morning April 2, 1959, at Atkins where the eastbound train left the rails at about 2 a.m. Cars shown here included 2 baggage cars, a Pullman (center) and 2 coaches (rear). All of the derailed cars remained upright, although the Pullman leaned precariously. Gazette photo. — Five of the seven derailed units of the Milwaukee Road passenger train, the Arrow, are shown in this picture taken the morning of April 2, 1959, at Atkins where the eastbound train left the rails around 2 a.m. Cars shown here include two baggage cars, a Pullman (center) and two coaches (rear). All the derailed cars remained upright, although the Pullman leaned precariously. (Gazette archives)

For more than 40 years, the Milwaukee Road railroad operated a passenger train route between Chicago and Omaha, Neb., that crossed Iowa and included a stop in Marion. Most of those trains came and went without incident, but April 2, 1959, was a major exception.

The Milwaukee Road called its trains on the Chicago-to-Omaha route the Arrow. The westbound No. 19 Arrow started in Chicago, while the eastbound No. 20 originated in Omaha.

On April 2, 1959, the No. 20 Arrow was passing through Eastern Iowa en route to Chicago. It was due in Marion at 2 a.m., but was running behind schedule. The train was just coming into Atkins in Benton County at that time, about 16 miles away from Marion. It was traveling at 79 mph and carrying 96 passengers.

Suddenly, the train derailed. Its first diesel engine remained on the tracks, but the second diesel engine and a baggage car jumped the rails, throwing the next two cars -- a baggage car and a mail car -- off the track. That then propelled a Pullman car and two coaches into the mud.

The soggy ground was credited with keeping all the cars fairly upright, although the Pullman leaned precariously.

Injured passengers treated at St. Luke’s

The accident tore up about 1,600 feet of track and threw sleeping passengers into the air. Twenty of them suffered only minor injuries that didn’t require medical treatment, but 11 were injured more seriously -- many with broken bones and lacerations.

Ambulances were called from Cedar Rapids, Belle Plaine and Vinton to transport them to St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids for treatment.

When word reached the overnight staff at St. Luke’s that injured train passengers were headed their way, nurses from all over the hospital headed to the emergency area. Students in the hospital’s School of Nursing were awakened and began pitching in. An on-call resident intern was joined by an off-duty intern. In all, 12 nurses and interns were treating the injured.

Nine of the 11 required X-rays, but none of the injuries were life-threatening.

Among the injured was baggage man Donald Boyle, 42, of Marion, who suffered a concussion when he was hit by flying luggage. The train’s conductor, Henry Hartung, 62, of Savanna, Ill., suffered a broken collar bone and chest injuries.

An Iowa highway patrolman directed the efforts of volunteers who helped to remove the injured from the derailed cars of the Milwaukee's Arrow at Atkins early in the morning April 2, 1959. There were 96 persons aboard the train. Eleven were hospitalized, none in serious condition. — An Iowa highway patrolman directs the efforts of volunteers who helped to remove the injured from the derailed cars of the Arrow early on April 2, 1959, in Atkins. There were 96 passengers aboard the train. Eleven went to the hospital, but none had life-threatening injuries. (Gazette archives)

Waiting for a new train

A new crew had been scheduled to board the Arrow at the Marion Depot. Instead, they drove to the accident site to assist.

The passengers who didn’t need medical treatment remained on board the train or walked into Atkins for coffee while waiting for another train to pick them up.

Hot coffee helped bolster a few ragged nerves after the derailment of the Arrow at Atkins April 2, 1959. In this picture, Don Arns of Hawarden, who walked into Atkins for coffee, pours a cup for Mrs. James Pooley, one of the passengers. Gazette photo — Hot coffee helped bolster a few ragged nerves after the derailment of the Arrow at Atkins on April 2, 1959. In this picture, Don Arns of Hawarden, who walked into Atkins for coffee, pours a cup for Mrs. James Pooley, one of the passengers. (Gazette archives)

A reporter noted that two children on board slept through the crash, and a 4-month-old baby escaped injury because his mother picked him up just before the accident, preventing him from being thrown from the seat on which he had been sleeping.

At 5:30 a.m., when the wreckage had been cleared, a train called the City of Denver pulled up beside the Arrow and loaded the passengers. Another train called the City of San Francisco pulled up next to collect baggage and mail.

The derailment story ran in papers nationwide, including in Portland, Maine; Ithaca, N.Y.; La Crosse, Wis.; Munster, Ind.; and Salem, Ore.

Barbara, 5, and Ronald, 4, children of the Bill Sadlers of Black Mountain, N.C., were awakened by the jolt when the Milwaukee Arrow's coaches left the rails in the Atkins derailment. They immediately climbed back in their seats and fell back to sleep. Gazette photo — Barbara, 5, and Ronald, 4, children of the Bill Sadlers of Black Mountain, N.C., were awakened by a jolt when some of the Milwaukee Road’s Arrow railcars left the rails in Atkins in 1959. They immediately climbed back in their seats and fell back to sleep. (Gazette archives)

Four-month-old Robert Rigdon, son of the Eugene A. Rigdons of Sidney, Neb., posed contentedly with his parents after the derailment of the Milwaukee Road's eastbound passenger train, the Arrow, at about 2 a.m. April 2, 1959. Held in his mother's arms and asleep at the time of the accident, Robert slept through the ensuing excitement.

Other Milwaukee Road derailments

The derailment initially was blamed on a broken axle on the second diesel engine. But after inspection, the Iowa Commerce Commission said the cause was a broken rail. The report also said that the track had been inspected the preceding afternoon. Tests showed no defects.

All passengers not injured in the derailment of the Arrow at Atkins April 2, 1959, were transferred to the City of Denver when that east-bound passenger pulled through Atkins at 5:30 a.m. Photo shows the transfer of passengers from the derailed train at the right to the other train at the left. The City of San Francisco, which pulled inlater, picked up mail and baggage from the derailed train. Gazette photo — All passengers who were uninjured in the derailment of the Arrow on April 2, 1959, were transferred to the eastbound passenger train City of Denver when it pulled through Atkins at 5:30 a.m. This photo shows the transfer of passengers from the derailed train at the right to the other train at the left. Another train, City of San Francisco, pulled into Atkins later and picked up the mail and baggage from the derailed train. (Gazette archives)

The Arrow wrecked again in 1962 when a gravel truck ran into its side near Hudson, S.D.

Another derailment in 1964 was similar to the Atkins one. The Arrow’s two diesel cars went off the tracks about two miles east of Keystone in Benton County, and all but one of the passenger cars left the rails but remained upright. The train had pulled onto a siding to make way for a 150-car freight train when it left the tracks. Ten people were hurt and taken to Cedar Rapids hospitals.

The Arrow trains, which had been running since 1926, were discontinued in 1967. The last ones went through Marion on Oct. 6 of that year.

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