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Picture of the Kate Shelley Bridge. For a long time, this 185' high, quarter mile long span was the highest railroad trestle in the world.
In the state of Iowa, U.S.A. just over one hundred years ago Kate Shelley won nationwide acclaim by a deed of heroism which averted a railway disaster and saved the lives of hundreds of passengers.
A fierce storm with torrential rain swept over the countryside and as evening approached floods swelled the Honey Creek, it overflowed on to the farm, and rushed to join the Des Moines river which was already a raging torrent. Kate moved the stock to higher ground before nightfall as they were threatened by the floods.
The midnight express train from the west was due to pass over the long Des Moines river bridge and the shorter bridge on Honey Creek on its way to Chicago. According to regulations a pusher engine was sent forward from the little Moingona station to test the track as far as Boone, the county capital. it got safely over the 671 foot long Des Moines river bridge. The Honey Creek bridge shaken by the storm collapsed under the engine which was hurled into the raging torrent 25 feet below. Hearing the horrible crash Kate and her mother realised that the Chicago bound train carrying over 200 passengers was due within an hour, and that it was doomed to destruction at Honey Creek if a warning was not given.
Kate made up her mind. She would try to get to Moingona station to have the express stopped. Setting out through the flooded land with the lantern her father used to carry at night she reached the Des Moines river bridge. She had to crawl up the ascent to the bridge which was 50 feet above the river. The long span had no floor and the cross ties were a yard apart leaving gaping spaces with nothing beneath but the raging river. Crawling on her hands and knees from one tie to another by the light of the lantern when suddenly she was left in darkness as the light went out. Inching forward she at last reached solid ground and the cinders of the track.
She was almost exhausted when she reached Moingona station. They thought she was crazy when she shouted Stop the express, Honey Creek bridge is down. As she insisted an urgent message was telegraphed to Ogden and the train was stopped. When she told of the fate of the pusher engine a rescue party set out on a freight engine with Kate on board, to see if any of the four who were on the pusher could be saved. Two were clinging to the branches of a tree which was caught in the broken bridge and they were hauled to safety. The other two were drowned.
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