The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America's Deadliest Avalanche

The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America's Deadliest Avalanche, by Gary Krist chronicles the events surrounding the killer storm of February, 1910 in the Northwest's Cascade Mountains.A record-breaking blizzard delays two Great Northern Railway trains as they cross the Cascades near Stevens Pass: a passenger train, the Seattle Express, and a mail train, the Fast Mail. At first it doesn't seem so serious, but as time wears on, the storm's intensity increases. Although Superintendent James H. O'Neill and his men work around the clock, they are unable to clear the way for the two trains to get through. Stranded near the tiny railroad town of Wellington, passengers can do little more than wait it out, hoping their various destinations and projects won't be too inconvenienced by the delay.But the storm doesn't abate, it only gets worse. It leaves so much snow on the tracks that the equipment can't carry it off fast enough. Passengers get edgy as the days pass without relief. Over a six day period enough snow has fallen to bury a two-story house, and still there's no letup.As the weather warms, conditions get more dangerous with the threat of avalanches. Forests surrounding the trains have been thinned from fire, making conditions for avalanche even more likely. Thunder and lightning heighten the danger as the snowfields disintegrate.Gary Krist does a remarkable job keeping suspense high throughout the book. With skill and meticulous detail he weaves local history, the personal lives of passengers and workers, newspaper accounts and meteorological conditions culminating in a killer avalanche, and finally the inquest resulting from the tragedy. Steam railroad buffs will find this book fascinating with its vivid descriptions of the ins and outs of railroading in early twentieth century. But you don't have to be a railroad enthusiast to enjoy this book-it's a piece of history skillfully presented.

Having never heard of this event I found the account very interesting. The author did a very good job of researching the event and unlike many non-fiction books about historical events or disasters this was not a dry read. The author did a great job of telling of the events leading up to the disaster and the subsequent rescue events. The story was well paced, interesting, informative and kept me involved in the story.

The White Cascade by Gary Krist, is an exceptional piece of written history. As previously said it reads, as a novel with suspense and characters full of emotion and detail yet the amazing thing is that this is no novel but history told at its best. This is the story of the 1910 avalanche that swept two snow bound trains off the high mountains tracks of Steven's Pass in Western Washington and took at least 96 lives. An amazing tale that history buffs, train lovers, and those interested in Washington's past cannot pass up. The people and rationalization are very clear through the book and a reader can sympathize with each person and their attempts to avoid the inevitable. James O'Neal seems to exude super human strength to free the trains. The Great Northern Railway is seen both a human personal light by the workers along with O'Neal yet also as the uncaring industrial company as it maneuvers to avoid lawsuits after the accident. In the end, it is seen as unavoidable and led to the building of the 8-mile tunnel still in use through the cascades. I have finished this book as the 100th anniversary of this tragic event nears, and am amazed that being born, raised and worked in Washington State most of my life I had no idea of this event. It is sad that the only monument to these victims and the people who gave everything to save them is the cold concrete of the tunnel and snow sheds forgotten in the trees of Steven's Pass. An excellent book and piece of Washington State and Railroad history that needs to be remembered.

As most true stories, it can start some what slow but having the back history is vital. Greatly written to a tragic story!

good book

Rarely have I read a book so well researched.From the opening pages describing the scenes after the disaster,this sets the stage for what is to come.Hugely detailed through out you can relive the minute by minute ,hour by hour senario as the prospect of doom slowly descends upon passengers and railway men alike.The main player being the worst storm in American history,one can only look on as tragedy overwhelms man's attempt to rescue over 100 men,women,and children from the two stranded trains trapped in immense snowdrifts on the mountain.From letters and diary's found on the bodies the situation facing the passengers can be compared to the drama yet to come in the Titanic tragedy.Overall a deeply moving account of a generally forgotten disaster that should be better known.

given as a gift but all reports were that it was an excellent read -this from someone who doesn't suffer fools lightly when it comes to railroad lore.

This book tells the story of a forgotten disaster that happened in 1910. In the worst weather Washington State had seen in years a train gets trapped on the Cascade Mountains. The story has been thoroughly researched and is brilliantly told. You feel you are trapped on the train, or out there digging. A first class read that I would recommend to anyone.