Illinois
Central
Wreck
Aplington
1918

 

 

 

  
Early morning May 29, 1918 found the westbound Illinois Central passenger and mail train No. 11, west of the town of Aplington, approaching a bridge over the Beaver Creek.  The creek was flooding and the train plowed into the bridge as it was collapsing. 

The locomotive and mail car plunged on to the bank and the combination express and mail car turned over. 

5 people were killed and dozens other injured. 

 
The dead were identified as:

W. A. Alderman, engineer, Waterloo
A.  F. Gollinveaux, fireman, Waterloo
J.  J. Rae, postal mail clerk, Dubuque
Two other mail clerks as yet unidentified

 

Photos courtesy of Margaret Arends:

Click on the photos for large views

          

 

 

Page constructed and online:  22 Mar 2021