Derailment Near Willow Lake, SD 3/22/1951

I have two photos in my collection from my grandfather from a derailment in South Dakota in the early 1950's. I am unaware as to whether or not my grandfather was close to these men although I do remember asking him if he remembered this incident. He didn't recall it at the time. 

Some additional information I received on the photos from a reputable source stated that "the engine is the 1477, a Lima-built H-4. By July 1951, it was in the Willmar scrap line. The accident site was also close to Hayti, SD."

The information on the back of one of the photos stated the following.
"Two Willmar men George Welch and Vernel Olson, died as a result of scalding in the Great Northern railroad engine pictured above where it came to rest after tipping over. Derailment of the train consisting of a locomotive, baggage car and a coach, occurred about 3 miles N.E. Willow Lake, South Dakota. The accident was a broken rail. Huron S.D. Mar. 22, 1951."

Hello

Hello everyone,

My name is Sean Murphy and I am 28 years old living in Northern Colorado with my amazing wife Anna. I am originally from Sunburg, Minnesota and I grew up in Kandiyohi County, MN. 

I work as an architect in Fort Collins, Colorado and I have always enjoyed tackling projects of all kinds. This blog will center around one of my many projects and interests, the modeling and history of railroads in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.

I have loved trains as long as I can remember but it probably spurs from my many visits to my grandfather's house in Willmar, MN. He was a firemen and engineer for the Great Northern Railway and the Burlington Northern Railroad for all of his life following his naval service in World War II.

Growing up, I spent a lot of time looking at his books on railroads, along with walks down to the Dairy Queen a few blocks away, adjacent to the Burlington Northern roundhouse. My grandfather took me and my brothers past the "NO TRESPASSING " signs and had us pose for pictures right up on the steps of the locomotives. We were both nervous and excited at the same time to go with grandpa and break the rules.







We would visit the P-2 Mountain steam locomotive #2523 across the walking bridge at the Kandiyohi County Historical Society. I would sit in the cab, imagining that I was the engineer in days long past when my grandfather, his father, and nearly every other Irishmen, Swede or Norwegian in Willmar worked for the railroad.

As I grew older, I began model railroading. My father built a table and bought a train set for me for Christmas. I worked on it almost every day, although the fun was short lived. We moved into a house where we no longer had the room for a layout and all of my models had to be stored away. In the meantime, I convinced my family to chase trains and stop at museums on every one of our vacations. 

My interest faded to a degree through high school and college as I discovered girls and freedom for the first time. I worked for the National Park Service and Forest Service in Colorado and met my wife. We moved around for a while looking for a place to stay long term and we both sought solid employment. Only after purchasing a house and settling into my work as an architect did I rediscover my love of trains. 

I now live adjacent to the BNSF Front Range Sub. and I am finally sorting through my boxes of train memorabilia and modeling supplies. With the space, time, and money available, I am making the leap and starting with a free-mo module which I hope to expand upon in the future. 

I hope that through these posts and ramblings that someone gets some useful information, a few good ideas, or even some courage to start their own layout.

Welcome!