Runaway Train: The Manitowoc and Two Rivers Story (Updated June 2024)

On March 7, 1958, a routine freight train departed from Manitowoc, WI headed for Two Rivers, about 8 miles northeasterly along Lake Michigan. 

The train consisted of nine cars loaded with a variety of goods, including lumber, aluminum and sand. What should have been a simple journey quickly turned into a the plot of a movie when the crew decided to take an early morning breakfast break. Thankfully, other than the sinking of the engine and two box cars, there were no injuries, and as there was little in the way of elevation change or curves along the branch, unlike the disaster that occurred at Lac Megantic, QC, there was no damage beyond the aforementioned consist.

The crew that stopped for breakfast had not properly secured the train before leaving. As a result, the train began to move on its own, picking up speed as it traveled down the tracks. Despite efforts to catch up with the train and bring it to a stop, the crew was unable to do so.

"This photo shows Chicago and Northwestern Switch Engine 1083 after it was recovered from the bottom of the Two Rivers Harbor. The front trucks (wheels) are missing because the engine was stuck in 12 feet of mud and when the lift was made to remove the engine the trucks snapped off." Mud can still be seen on the engine though water hoses were used to remove the large amounts of mud before the engine was brought onto land. Note how the rear trucks are already on part of the additional 60 feet of railroad track which had to be laid in order to get heavy lifting equipment dockside. This engine was eventually towed to Green Bay, Wisconsin for additional investigation and repair evaluation. According to Richard Hanke, historian for The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Historical Society, this engine was repaired and placed back in service. Photo from Manitowoc County Historical Society Police Photo Collection.

Today, we explore the history of this incident and line, along the now abandoned Chicago & Northwestern branch between the two cities. Thanks to the Manitowoc County Historical Society and Jeff Seidl for their research and help with this blog! I had originally posted this blog in April of 2023, but with some excellent new information about the incident from Jeff, it was time for an update. The above photo of CNW 1083 was taken by the MPD and donated to the historical society.

The Manitowoc-Two Rivers corridor was actually served by both the subject CNW line and the earlier interurban line known as the Manitowoc and Two Rivers Railway, which ended service in 1929.

The Manitowoc & Two Rivers Railway trolley is seen in front of the Manitowoc Savings Bank on South Eighth Street. This is one of the trolley cars that traveled between Manitowoc and Two Rivers, beginning around 1902. Manitowoc had trolley or streetcars until 1929. (UW-Madison Library)

As shown on our Abandoned & Out-of-Service Railroad Lines map, the interurban paralleled present-day WI-42 to the east hugging Lake Michigan while the CNW route headed north from Manitowoc about a mile inland, before heading northeasterly towards Two Rivers and the lake.

CNW 1493 en route to Manitowoc, WI along the branch. (Forgotten Lands, Places and Transit photo collection)

Built in 1872 by the Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western from Sheboygan to Two Rivers, the branch had an otherwise fairly benign history as a short branch of the CNW, albeit one that connected two cities with Lake Michigan ports in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Manitowoc had through passenger service via the CNW going south to Chicago and north to Green Bay and beyond. There were other shorter spur lines within the City that the C&NW railroad served. 

Back to March of 1958.  According to Seidl, The train disappeared from the Calumet Ave. railyard on the west side of Manitowoc. The article from the Herald Times Reporter on March 8, 1958 front page states that the crew verified the train lights were turned off per company policy. Another article on March 14, 1958 front page states, “the crew set the brakes, turned off the light and let the engine idle according to regulations, before taking their break.” The photo caption on March 13, 1958 front page states “the handle of the throttle which must be squeezed together to be moved was found two thirds of the way toward full throttle despite the trainmen’s statements that the control had been in neutral.” The text in the main article of the March 13 newspaper, states “company officials would not comment as to whether the throttle in the cab of engine had been found wide open.”

While the grade and elevation does not change significantly between Manitowoc and Two Rivers, the elevation is not the same; thus, “train men expressed serious doubts that a slow moving diesel engine could have pulled the nine loaded freight cars up the Cemetery Hill grade without extra throttle.” There was a change in elevation near the Evergreen Cemetery.

"Route of the Runaway Train" between Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Herald Times Reporter. March 11, 1958

The train crossed 20 crossings without sounding its horn, and witnesses soon observed the train moving without the crew. The branch customarily would flag each crossing with a lantern and red flag, so the lack of flagging was in itself a red flag for the public (excuse the pun). "Manitowoc Police Officers Roland Dueno and Frank Wensing observed the train pass the Mirro Dr. crossing heading towards Two Rivers traveling about 5 to 8 miles an hour. The train did not sound a warning before making the crossing and at the time they were not aware that a train was missing. It was not until 0400 did they learn that a train was missing from the Calumet yards." (Seidl)

Looking south towards Manitowoc along the line behind what is now Renee's Specialties. This was taken in 2022, long after the last train used these tracks, but this would have been the point that the train began accelerating to dangerous speeds.

But the train quickly gained speed despite the lack of elevation, and by the time it arrived in Two Rivers, witnesses observed it traveling at about 50 miles per hour before plunging into the harbor. At first, police didn't believe a witness who observed the incident. Only after Two Rivers Police saw the train engine’s headlight underwater did they contact the Manitowoc PD. 

It took several days to pull the engine (CNW 1083) out of the water, as it was caked in 12 feet of mud. This engine was recovered and sent to Green Bay for additional investigation and repair. According to the investigation of the incident, someone had advanced the throttle during the crew break and then left the engine. No one was ever found, and no one came forward admitting guilt. 

NOTE: I had originally had a photograph of the Chicago & Northwestern swing bridge that is out of service in Two Rivers; however Seidl confirmed that the swing bridge was not part of the incident. The area in Two Rivers impacted by the incident is near where Two Rivers Water & Light is located today, south of the West Twin River.

Today, the incident is a footnote in the history of rail transportation in the region. While it may not have been as dramatic or devastating as some other incidents, it nonetheless highlights the importance of vigilance and attention to detail in the transportation industry. Today, Manitowoc is serviced by the Canadian National Railroad Line. The rail service only goes to the village of Newton to the south and the village of Rockwood to the north, and without any passenger service whatsoever, although one can catch a Thruway bus to catch Amtrak Amtrak trains.

Once again, thankfully, no one was hurt in this event, but it isn't hard to see how this event could have turned deadly very quickly were some of the variables a bit different.

Thanks as always for reading, and once again thanks to Jeff Seidl for his help with this blog!