1989 Helena (MT) Train Wreck KFBB report

In the early morning of Feb 2nd,1989, the temperature outside was a chilly -30 degrees Fahrenheit with the Weather service reports having wind chills in the -75 range, Most of the town was not yet awake. There was a train waiting for new locomotives at the top of the pass. Due to the cold, the air brakes failed on the train cars sitting at the top of Mullan pass, causing them to slide back down the pass and into Helena. The runaway cars hit a parked train car at a what is now a cement plant next to the campus of Carroll College. the result was extensive damage to Carroll College and power outages around town. This video is the KFBB report looking back at the report from the day after the wreck.
All Copyright for the video belongs to KFBB-TV, a subsidiary of Cowles Montana Media Media Company. All Rights reserved, No copy right infringement intended

[@lauramorrow2900]

I saw a pbs documentary about this awhile back that showcased the firefighting effort at the time. Can you imagine hosing things down in -30F temps? I was working for the USPS at the time. We didn't deliver mail that day. People had to come to the PO to pick up their mail if they had something important... like their monthly SSI checks...

[@lchelena5048]

That was some brutal weather. The wind was extremely cold.

[@lymersteve5522]

I was staying with a family on the other side of the airport when i woke and thought I'd put too much wood into the stove in the middle of the night and I was sure I had Blown up mr Twoteeth's Chimney..from about 2 miles away the house shook, thanks for posting

[@kylen.6742]

Who's the newscaster girl?

[@teddybeareleventeen]

Just found this story, my god what a bang it must have been!
Thanks for sharing.