Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express

We read Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express this week. As it happens it was exactly 125 years ago this very day that this 15 year old girl became a hero.


Here is Julian's narration of the book:


Kate Shelley was a teenage girl who was one of five children. She lived with her mother and her siblings as her father had been killed in a railroad accident.


On July 6, 1881, there was a terrible storm approaching Moingona, Iowa. All of the farmers were running to check that their chickens were sheltered. Later in the evening, a train with four crew members passed the Shelley cabin and crashed into the water when the Honey Creek bridge collaspsed because of the storm. Against her mother's wishes, Kate went to check for survivors. She found two survivors, but was unable to rescue them, so she went for help. She remember that the Midnight Express Train that would be heading this way to cross the bridge that had collapsed. She was very worried because dozens and dozens of passengers lives would be lost if she did not warn them.


Kate turned to head to the closest train station, which was about one mile west. The wind and rain were fierce against her skin. To get to the station it was necessary to cross the Demoine River Trestle. The water was almost up to the sides of the bridge. Her lantern was about to go out. Sure enough, her lantern went out and the only light she had was lightning. She had to crawl to keep her balance. Finally, she felt dry land and was only a quarter mile away at that point. She made it, all bloody and bruised from the nails in the railroad ties.

Kate told the station master to stop the Midnight Express. However, the people at the station thought she was crazy. Fortunately, the station master recognized her and flagged down the Midnight Express, just in time, which saved the lives of the passengers riding the train. Brave Kate Shelley was a hero! She even helped them rescue the two survivors.


When Kate grew up she worked at the train station and she was given a free pass to ride the train whenever she wanted.