1944 – Nov 8, Train Derailment, Southern Pacific Challenger, near Colfax, CA — 9

lornajarrettblanchard November 8, 1944

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-18-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

— 10 United Press. “12 Killed, 75 Hurt in Wreck.” Hayward Review, CA. 11-8-1944, p. 1.[1]

— 10 U.P. “Challenger Jumps Tracks Near Colfax,” San Mateo Times, CA. Nov 8, 1944, p. 1.

— >9 Oakland Tribune, CA. “U.S. Troops Guard S.P. Wreckage From Looters.” 11-9-1944, 19.

— 9 U.P. “S.P. Train Rams Freight Near Colfax.” The Hayward Review, 11-11-1944, p. 1.

— 9 Wikipedia. “List of Rail Accidents (Pre-1950).” (No source citation.)

Narrative Information

Wikipedia: “November 8, 1944 Nine persons were known to have been killed and at least 125 injured at dawn when the first section of the westbound Southern Pacific Challenger jumped the tracks and hurtled into a ditch three miles (5 km) west of Colfax.” (Wikipedia. “List of Rail Accidents (Pre-1950).”)

Newspapers

Nov 8, United Press: “Colfax, Calif., Nov. 8. – (U.P.) – A section of the transcontinental Southern Pacific Challenger passenger train, carrying a capacity load of service men and civilians to San Francisco, jumped the tracks and crashed into a ditch in the Sierra Nevada today, killing at least 12 persons and injuring more than 75…. The Southern Pacific company later announced that 10 persons were killed in the wreck.

“Ambulances dispatched by the DeWitt general hospital and the coroner’s office returned to Colfax with load after load of injured…. The injured, including soldiers, sailors and civilians, were rushed to Dewitt hospital for treatment by army doctors. Some were in serious condition. Unofficial on-the-scene reports indicated the toll of injured may run considerably higher. A sailor estimated 100 were hurt.

“The crash occurred three miles west of Colfax, a mountain town near the summit of the Sierra Nevada range. Dick Wayland, United Press correspondent in Colfax, reported six coaches, a diner and three baggage cars telescoped behind the engine, which plowed into a dirt embankment. Eight other cars remained upright…

“The Auburn chapter of the Red Cross, including 15 nurses aides and staff assistants, assisted in

caring for the wounded.

“Col. D. N. Smith, chief medical officer at Dewitt hospital, sent a total of 11 ambulances to the wreck. Wayland said an army doctor and two nurses who were passengers on the train established an emergency first aid station at a farm house near the wreck.

“The dead included the engineer…and seven persons trapped in one of the wrecked cars, he said.

“The engine plowed into a dirt embankment, but did not turn over, Wayland said. The engineer’s

body was pinned between the engine and the bank…

“Railroad employes were using acetylene torches trying to reach a sailor trapped in one of the cars and believed to be alive.

“Six coaches, a diner and three baggage cars telescoped behind the engine. Eight other cars remained upright on the tracks.

“The railroad is a two-truck line where the wreck occurred. The westbound track was blocked by

the wreck but the other was clear. Apparently the tracks were not damaged….

“Approximately 800 persons were on the train, Wayland estimated…” (San Mateo Times (CA). “Challenger Jumps Tracks Near Colfax,” Nov 8, 1944, p. 1.)

Nov 8, United Press: “Colfax, Cal., (UP) – A section of the transcontinental Southern Pacific Challenger passenger train, carrying a capacity load of service men and civilians to San Francisco, jumped the tracks and crashed into a ditch in the Sierra Nevada today, killing at least 12 persons and injuring more than 75.

“The first death toll report of 12 was released by the Red Cross in San Francisco on the basis of information from its Auburn chapter. The Southern Pacific company later announced that 10 persons were killed in the wreck.

“Ambulances dispatched by the Dewitt General army hospital and the coroner’s office returned to Colfax with load after load of injured and searchers, after counting 12 dead, continued the hunt for bodies, the Red Cross disaster service reported.

“The injured, including soldiers, sailors and civilians, were rushed to Dewitt hospital for treatment by army doctors. Some were in serious condition. Unofficial on-the-scene reports indicated the toll of injured may run considerably higher. A sailor estimated 100 were hurt.

“The crash occurred three miles west of Colfax, a mountain town near the summit of the Sierra Nevada range.

“Dick Wayland, United Press correspondent in Colfax, reported six coaches, a diner and three baggage cars telescoped behind the engine, which plowed into a dirt embankment. Eight other cars remained upright….

Nov 9: “Soldiers armed with rifles today patrolled the area three miles west of Colfax, in Placer County, while emergency crews cleaned up the wreckage of the Southern Pacific ‘Challenger,’ crack overland train that was derailed yesterday, killing at least nine persons and injuring at least 94 others. Only one of the dead, a woman about 23 years of age, remained unidentified at the morgue in Colfax today as F.B.I., railroad and Interstate Commerce Commission officials probed the cause of the wreck….

“Preliminary examination of the wrecked locomotive, cars and roadbed produced no evidence of sabotage, F.B.I. agents on the scene announced, and the railroad was looking into the possibility that recent heavy rains had weakened the right of way around the rails….

“The Army came in to guard the wreckage and piles of torn baggage after there were reports of widespread looting. Some persons lost as much as $1000 and all their personal effects in the few minutes after nine cars and the locomotive of the crack train slid off the rails and overturned.

“Survivors of the 800 passengers on the train credited service personnel with helping injured men and women from the wreckage and setting up the first medical station to care for them. Army and Navy doctors and nurses who were riding on the train turned in and gave first aid to the injured. They set up a dressing station in the diner and later broke into a cabin nearby and used it as another place to collect the injured until ambulances came from nearby De Witt General Hospital…

“The most seriously injured, both civilians and service personnel, were taken to De Witt. Others were transferred to hospitals at Auburn and Sacramento, and a few were brought into Oakland last night on the second section of the Challenger.

“The train was en route from Chicago to Oakland when it left the rails on Robber’s Curve at 5:15 a.m. in pitch darkness.

“Engineer Graham was pinned in his smashed cab and apparently was killed instantly. The other dead were passengers riding in the front cars of the first section of the train.

“All survivors agreed that the train seemed to slip off the rails and only a heavy oak tree kept the last cars from toppling off the track.

“Some of the passengers were trapped in their coaches and it was at least 15 minutes before soldiers and sailors could get them out through jagged holes torn in the roofs. Witnesses said there was bedlam around the wreckage for nearly half an hour.

“Someone awakened Ernie Lombardi, who lives in a cabin a short distance from the scene, and sent him to Colfax for help. He had just reported the accident when Carl Bohle of Sacramento, conductor on the train, walked into town and gave a complete report.

“All medical facilities in the area were mobilized immediately. The Red Cross Disaster Relief Committee of Auburn turned out and women and school children started rolling bandages and surgical dressings at once. They had their first packages of supplies at the DeWitt Hospital by the time the first ambulances came in with the injured. School was dismissed for the children for the day so they could keep on working.

“Col. William H. Smith, commanding officer at the hospital, took charge of the military personnel at the scene and later brought out detachments of soldiers to guard the wreckage. Residents of the Colfax-Auburn area who flocked to the scene to watch the wrecking crews at work were kept at a distance from the train.” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “U.S. Troops Guard S.P. Wreckage From Looters.” 11-9-1944, p. 19C.)

Nov 10: “Colfax, Cal., (UP) – A four-way investigation into the wreck of the Southern Pacific Challenger was in progress today as the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced there was no evidence of sabotage…

“Coroner Francis E. West believed that one of the telescoped conches might contain the bodies of more victims. Railroad workers were expected to open up the car, fifth from the engine, by noon after giant cranes had cleared away wreckage of four others. The fifth car was the only one in which portions were inaccessible to searchers because of the telescoping railroad officials said.

“A hearing will be held by the interstate commerce commission to determine why the engine and

eight coaches left the track on a curve three miles from here early Wednesday. Company officials and Placer county authorities are aiding in the inquiry.

“Some survivors said the train appeared to be traveling “unduly fast,” but others, including the fireman, declared its speed was normal….

Col. W. L. Smith, commanding officer of DeWitt General hospital, near Auburn, said that of the scores of seriously injured, most of them suffering severe shock, only two have been released from the hospital…” (Hayward Review, CA. “FBI Check Accident SP Train.” 11-10-1944, p. 1.)

Nov 11: “Colfax, Calif., (U.P.) – A west-bound Southern Pacific engine rammed into the rear of a freight train 15 miles west of here last night, derailing a caboose and delaying traffic for several hours, railroad officials disclosed. The accident, in which no one was injured, also delayed cleanup operations at the point where the Challenger passenger train was wrecked Monday, since equipment had to be transferred to the new wreck site.

“However, Coroner Francis F. West said that it had definitely been established that no bodies remained in derailed Challenger cars, confirming the death toll of the wreck at nine. Ome woman killed remains unidentified.

“West also said that all civilians injured in the Challenger wreck who can be moved will be transferred from the Dewitt general military hospital at Auburn to other institutions. A total of 83 persons were treated at the hospital for injury in the wreck and 26 already have been transferred or discharged.” (United Press. “S.P. Train Rams Freight Near Colfax.” The Hayward Review, 11-11-1944, p. 1.)

Sources

Hayward Review, CA. “12 Killed, 75 Hurt in Wreck [Colfax, CA].” 11-8-1944, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=37384160

Oakland Tribune, CA. “U.S. Troops Guard S.P. Wreckage From Looters.” 11-9-1944, p. 19C. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=33945782

San Mateo Times, CA. “Challenger Jumps Tracks Near Colfax,” November 8, 1944, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=37340629

United Press. “S.P. Train Rams Freight Near Colfax.” The Hayward Review, 11-11-1944, p. 1. Accessed 3-18-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hayward-review-nov-11-1944-p-1/

Wikipedia. “List of Rail Accidents (Pre-1950).” Accessed at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pre-1950_rail_accidents

[1] Despite the title, the text of the article notes a later correction bringing estimated fatalities down to ten.