On this day, April 25, 1946, the wreck of the Exposition Flyer occurred.

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3. Naperville Sun: Timeline of deadly 1946 train collision in Naperville

NAPERVILLE SUN

Timeline of deadly 1946 train collision in Naperville

By Rafael Guerrero
Naperville Sun • Apr 25, 2021 at 8:11 am



This Associated Press photo shows the smashed and derailed cars from the passenger train collision in Naperville on April 25,1946. (Naperville Heritage Society / HANDOUT)

12:35 p.m. — The Advance Flyer and Exposition Flyer trains depart Chicago’s Union Station. The Exposition Flyer is en route to San Francisco while the Advance Flyer is bound for Iowa and Nebraska.

The Exposition merges onto the same track as the Advance Flyer at Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, about five miles from the station. There is a two- to three-minute gap separating the two trains.

12:56 and 12:58 p.m. — The times the Advance Flyer and Exposition Flyer were to pass through Downers Grove, seven miles from Naperville. Burlington officials said the Exposition Flyer was about three minutes behind the Advance.

1:03 p.m. — The Advance Flyer stops at the Loomis Street crossing so train employees can inspect for possible damage from something seen flying out from beneath one of the coach cars.

1:03 to 1:05 p.m. — The Exposition Flyer closes in on the stopped train, the engineer seeing a yellow caution light while traveling 80 mph. He slows his speed but does not try to try to stop until he sees a second caution light, which was red. It is too late to avoid a collision.

Harold Schrader sees a train employee jump from the Exposition’s lead car while he’s working in the Kroehler Manufacting Co. lumberyard, prompting him to call Naperville police and fire departments

1:05 p.m. — The Exposition Flyer slams into the stopped Advance Flyer at a speed estimated to be about 45 mph.

The Advance’s back car is split open by the Exposition Flyer locomotive, coming to rest three-quarters of the way through the Advance Flyer’s rear car. The impact pushes the cars about 205 feet west of the point of impact.

Source: “The Tragedy at the Loomis Street Crossing” by Chuck Spinner