Against The Odds Against The Odds

The Great Northern Railroad Avalanche | Snowed In | 1

Sep 15, 2026 · 47m

Summary

This episode recounts the 1910 Stevens Pass avalanche, the deadliest in U.S. history, which trapped the Seattle Express and a mail train in the Cascade Mountains. It follows the experiences of passengers like widow Ida Starrett and lawyer Lewis Jessup, alongside railroad superintendent James O'Neill and plow conductor Homer Purcell, who struggled against relentless blizzards and mechanical failures.

Topics discussed

Introduction and listener note Starrett and children on the stuck train The train trapped in the snowstorm Thunder and the first rumble of danger The wall of snow approaches Sponsor segments and host introduction The scale of the disaster and exposed workers Superintendent James O'Neill and the weather The Cascade range and communication risks O'Neill's strained marriage and duty Bernice's pregnancy and O'Neill's departure O'Neill's refusal to stay behind Lawyer Lewis Jessup boards the train Jessup's upcoming court case Encounter with opposing counsel Merritt O'Neill arrives at Wellington station O'Neill consults with the engineer Planning train movements with Blackburn Shortage of plow cars The mail contract and scheduling dilemma Waiting for the weather report Conductor Pettit and the approaching train Pettit meets Ida Starrett Starrett's fears about getting stuck Sponsor segment: AI voice technology Sponsor segment: Business Wars podcast Homer Purcell pilots the rotary plow The plow's progress and mechanism Encountering a snowslide Struggling to clear icy snow Ordering a scout to Wellington Jessup wakes to the blizzard Jessup's frustration and breakfast plans Starrett in the grimy beanery Raymond bumps the cook Starrett's breakfast and conversation Concerns over food supplies Purcell's exhaustion and repeated slides O'Neill orders another push Manual shoveling at Cascade station O'Neill's fatigue and coal shortage Engines fail to move the train Decoupling cars and dwindling resources Sponsor segment: American History Tellers Sponsor segment: American Scandal Jessup dines at the Bayiff Hotel Progress and morale boost Jessup and Merritt tour Wellington Discussing avalanche risks Purcell stuck again in the same spot Tree stump jams the plow blade Cook Elliker's exhaustion Elliker hears the rumble The avalanche strikes the station Series introduction and credits Production credits Sponsor segment: Audible Stories
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