Dewayne's Corner: Marlow Train Wreck of 1973

Dewayne’s Corner

Marlow Train Wreck of 1973

Dewayne Boyles

Many have not heard of the train wreck of July 2, I think was 1973. A lot of Marlow Outlaws had been working on the rails and cross timbers. I remember O.T. Brooks, Al McWatters, Frank Steward, Terry Jones and Jr. Brown were there. Well, about setting sun we all climbed on the train to check out our work. We left the station with Engineer Frank Steward at the engine controls. We crossed over the bridge at Wild Horse Creek and then headed north.

I was in the back passenger car and most the other men were up in the front passenger car listening to the clang as we rode the track. If there was a loose spike or weak spot right behind the engine is where you could hear or feel it.

We were going along enjoying an uneventful ride, passed the crossing signs that I had repainted, passed the caretakers house, he was setting on the porch with a glass of ice tea and we all waved at him. Rounded the bend and crossed over the small bridge up north and headed up the steep incline going back south. We watched kids swimming in the ol’ water hole as was time to head home. We started to pick up speed as we were in the home stretch.

As we passed over the dry wash, we noticed something was not right. The engine started to roar and sway back and forth! I looked up just as the engine rolled onto its side and started to slide over the ground! WOW! We all jumped off the passenger cars and run up front to check on poor Frank. Everyone was alright, but Frank was a little shy about trains after that.

The next day the city crews were there to upright the engine and pull it into the storage shed. Needless to say, that 4th of July there were no train rides in the Red Bud Park. The Marlow Jaycees handled the rides that year. The city owned the rides and (I believe) decided to sell the train as it was a big insurance liability, pulled up the track. That is how I remember the Marlow Redbud Park train wreck.

A post in Remember in Marlow, OK (Facebook) by Cathy Robbins McCourt, put the opening of the Redbud Park Kiddy-Land Park opening ceremony in April, probably 1956. Train, Ferris wheel and cart tractor merry-go-round – many great times had by thousands of kids on those rides.

Editor's Note: This is the first of Dewayne Boyles' weekly columns. We welcome Dewayne as a featured columnist for The Marlow Review. He has so many stories to share about Marlow's past. We hope you look forward to reading his articles.