1948 — Jan 1, speeding Missouri Pacific train rams 2nd train in snowstorm ~Otterville, MO–14

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Sep 30, 2023 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–14  Cumberland…Times, MD. “14 Meet Death in Collision of Two MP Trains.” 1-2-1948, 1.

–14  The Examiner, Independence, MO. “On New Year’s…1948 tragedy struck…train.” 1-1-2010.

–14  Nat. RR. Hist. Society, Rivanna Chap.  “This Month in Railroad History. Jan.” 1-15-2006.

–14  Trains. “What Happened Today in Railroad History?” 12-19-2010.

Narrative Information

The Examiner, Independence, MO, Jan 1, 2010: “An ice and snow storm rolled through Jackson County and then to the east on New Year’s Eve and into New Year’s Day 1948. The high that day was about 20 in Independence. The weather slowed trains, including the ‘Eagle,’ with a scheduled stop in Independence.

“Jan. 1, 1948, The Independence Examiner, page 1. Headline: ‘Westbound Eagle In Tragic Wreck.’  Story: Otterville, Mo, Jan. 1 (UP) – Missouri State Highway Patrol officers report that at least 10 persons were killed today in the collision of two Missouri Pacific streamliners near Otterville, Mo. Missouri Pacific authorities estimate the number of dead at ‘10 or 11.’ The chief of police at Sedalia, near Otterville, says he understood 18 were killed.

“The accident happened two miles west of Syracuse, Mo., on the tracks about a quarter mile from U.S. 50, between Sedalia and Jefferson City. The westbound Eagle, also referred to as ‘The Missourians,’ was really two trains. The first had an engine, three mail cars, a baggage car, two coaches, a dining car and four sleeping cars, Pullmans. The second  – an engine, a coach car and seven box cars – was hauling mail.

“Jan. 2, 1948, The Independence Examiner, page 1.  Headline: ‘Count Fourteen Dead in Wreck.’
Story: Otterville, Mo., Jan. 1 (UP) – The Missouri Highway Patrol says 14 persons, including a former United States ambassador and his wife, died when two Missouri Pacific trains collided near Otterville, Mo., New Year’s morning….The first section of the train was creeping along, observing red block signals which were knocked out of a normal operation by the snow storm. The second train rammed into it.  It was 7:48 a.m. The first train was going 15 mph. The second train was late, and the engineer thought the dispatcher wanted him to make up time. Investigators would later say the train was going 45 mph.

 “A reporter for the Sedalia Democrat, Kelly Scruton, filed a news story to the Associated Press, writing, ‘I’ve seen a lot of wrecks, but today’s crash of two Missouri Pacific trains near here was the worst – the most tragic – scene I’ve ever witnessed.’ ‘ …The rear Pullman on the first section formed a metal shell covering the locomotive of the second train. The locomotive had telescoped in the car and crushed everything (and everybody) in its path into a space of not more than ten feet.’  ‘ …The interior was crushed together just as we used to smash tin cans together and bale them for salvage during the war.’….

“`Falling snow materially restricted visibility,’ the Interstate Commerce Commission would report later. Trains were moving ahead, from signal to signal, sometimes slowing, sometimes briefly stopping. The crew of the second train saw the first train at the last minute and threw on the brakes.  ‘It is found that this accident was caused by failure to operate the following train in accordance with signal indications,’ the report concluded.

“Snow slowed the rescue workers’ efforts. Another Associated Press story, filed later, described the ghastly scene and said, “Trooper Pete Stohr of the highway patrol was one of the men with the grim job of pulling bodies out of the mangled Pullman car.  Four hours after the wreck, he said, he heard a woman still moaning inside her crushed berth. She died before she reached a hospital.”

“In all, 12 passengers and two Pullman employees died, and 32 passengers and six crew were injured. The dead included Alexander Weddell and his wife.  He had been U.S. ambassador to Spain and Argentina. Also killed was Viola Andrews, believed to be the couple’s maid.  E.K. Emmons was a Pullman conductor from St. Charles, Mo., and Harry Chambers was a Pullman porter from Lovejoy, Ill. Both died.  Film director Frank Ryan, his wife and three children also died.  His movies included “Call Out the Marines,” “Patrick the Great” with Donald O’Connor and “So Goes My Love” with Myrna Loy and Don Ameche.”  (The Examiner, Independence, MO. “On New Year’s Day 1948 tragedy struck a westbound train.” 1-1-2010.)

Newspaper at the Time

Jan 2, Associated Press: “Otterville, Mo. – (AP) – Alexander W. Weddell, former ambassador to Spain and Argentina, and 13 other holiday travelers were killed in the New Year’s Day collision of two passenger trains near this central Missouri town.  Approximately 12 persons were injured, five of whom required hospitalization.  The dead also included Mrs. Alexander W. Weddell and Frank M. Ryan, identified as a Hollywood movie director.

Collide in Snow Storm

“The collision occurred during a heavy snow storm while the Missouri Pacific’s-“The Missourian” was traveling from. St. Louis to Kansas City in two sections.  The engine of the second section rammed into the rear Pullman of the first train, crushing the car so completely that torches were used to cut the wreckage apart and remove the dead.  All of those killed were occupants of the rear Pullman….

“The Missouri Pacific issued a statement saying there probably was “flagrant negligence on the part of certain train employes.” Earlier Col. High Waggoner of the State Highway Patrol attributed the collision to an apparent failure of block signals.  The Missouri Pacific statement said the signals were in perfect order.  The scene of the wreck is about 95 miles east of Kansas City.”  (Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “14 Meet Death in Collision of Two MP Trains.” 1-2-1948, p. 1.)

Sources

 Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “14 Meet Death in Collision of Two MP Trains.” 1-2-1948, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=96902031

 National Railway Historical Society, Rivanna Chapter, Charlottesville, Virginia. “This Month in Railroad History. January.” 1-15-2006 update. Accessed at: http://nrhs.avenue.org/histjan.htm

 The Examiner, Independence, MO. “On New Year’s Day 1948 tragedy struck a westbound train.” 1-1-2010. At: http://www.examiner.net/news/x370509001/On-New-Year-s-Day-1948-tragedy-struck-a-westbound-train

 Trains (The Magazine of Railroading). “What Happened Today in Railroad History?” 12-19-2010. Accessed 2-18-2012 at: http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/179215/2015559.aspx

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