Chicago's Infamous "ak - Sar -ben" (Naperville, Wheaton: live, train)

[HOWELL_STREET]

Well, I just got kicked off the line again. So let's try once more. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad had another very famous excursion train. It was known as the "Ak - SAR - BEN". And backwards, that spelled "Nebraska". It was a very, very fast Zephr and during the time of this incident, 1946, it would easily approach 80 MPH - - if wanted / required.
That particular train was a week end excursion train that went to Omaha for Chicago area people's entertainment.
On a particular summer day (from memory), that train had too many passengers. And so a second train was made up for the overflow. The first one left and then the second one also left perhaps about 15 minutes later. Both were on the same track all the way out to Naperville, IL. At Naperville, the first train stopped due to its malfunction of one of the car's "trucks" (wheel systems). And so the conductor stood behind the train with a red flag. This incident predates electronic signal systems and even railroad incindiary flares.
Unknown to the second trains engineer - - that train number one had stopped right near the Naperville, IL station of today - - the second train plowed right into the rear of the first train still doing a very high rate of speed. Of course, many people lost their lives in that accident.
If you visit the Naperville, IL public library, one can find articles about that very tragic incident.
My details are from memory and so please keep that in mind. Perhaps they are slightly erroneous. However, this is a very true incident that happened.

Best Regards,

Carter Glass

[Steve-o]

Interesting.

But Im curious... why would a Chicagoan go to Omaha for entertainment? LOL

[HOWELL_STREET]

Believe it or not, this is my fourth attempt in responding. So far, I have been kicked off line three times. So would you graciously permit my derrogatory comment? This Wheaton ISP STINKS.
In short, the AK-SAR-BEN became the solution to bored housewives who were limited to visiting other places and towns during World War Two. So the railroads became the travel agents and promoted visits to popular cities to also make more money.

Carter Glass