The Great Northern Railroad Avalanche | Stranded on a Train | 4
Summary
Host Mike Corey interviews author Gary Crist about the 1910 Wellington avalanche, the deadliest in U.S. history. They discuss the Great Northern Railway’s decision to strand trains in a blizzard, the subsequent avalanche that killed 96 people, and the human stories of passengers and railway officials. The episode also covers the aftermath, including legal battles, safety improvements, and the current state of the ghost town.
Topics discussed
Sponsorships and episode introduction
The 1910 blizzard and stranded trains
Visiting the ghost town of Wellington
Conditions on the stranded trains
Superintendent O'Neill and the Cascade route
Sarah Jane Covington's diary and background
Researching O'Neill's personal life
Passenger panic and diary entries
Social context of early 20th-century travel
Sponsor segments and podcast promos
O'Neill's decision-making and hindsight
Why moving trains to the tunnel failed
Shoveler strikes and coal shortages
Passengers hiking out and evacuation limits
Sponsor segments and podcast promos
Photographs of the avalanche aftermath
Causes of death and body recovery
Press coverage and the inquest
Legal verdicts and civil suits
Safety changes and the new tunnel
Closing remarks and credits
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