Temperatures plummeted to minus 27 on Feb. 2, 1989 as 49 runaway train cars careened down Mullen Pass above Helena. The runaway cars crashed into another train just outside Carroll College.Â
The collision derailed 15 cars and was followed by two explosions – one from a tank car and one from a nearby transformer station – knocking out electricity and heat to a large portion of the Helena area for several days.
Though nobody was killed or seriously injured, more than $10 million in damages were reported.
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Here are photos of the aftermath of this human-caused disaster in Helena.Â
Damaged train
A worker inspects damage after 49 runaway train cars came barreling down Mullan Pass at an estimated 35-40 miles per hour and crashed into another train just outside Guadalupe Hall at Carroll College in 1989.
Ariel view
An aerial view of the smoke and wreckage following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Firefighters extinguish flames
Firefighters work to extinguish flames following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Carroll College evacuation
Students and faculty evacuate on-campus housing following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Damage at Carroll College
The windows of Guadalupe Hall were shattered when a train exploded near Carroll College in 1989.
Damaged train
Icicle-laden bent and twisted metal was all that remained of a train after it exploded near Carroll College in 1989.
Damage inside of the Carroll College gym
Windows shattered and ceiling tiles toppled inside the Carroll College gym following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Carroll College dorms
Three young women look down from the dorms through broken windows following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Shattered windows
Windows at a local business complex shattered due to the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Damage in Carroll College gym
Windows shattered and ceiling tiles toppled inside the Carroll College gym following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Taking shelter after the explosion
A young woman holds a rosary in her hand as she and her friends take shelter following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Debris
A woman poses with debris that landed on her property after a train exploded near Carroll College in 1989.
Carroll College students
Students at Carroll College huddle under blankets to stay warm following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Worker covers damaged windows
A worker covers damaged windows with plastic sheeting at the Carroll College gym following the 1989 train explosion.Â
Damaged dorm room at Carroll College
A dorm room sits in shambles following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Carroll College students
Students at Carroll College huddle under blankets to stay warm following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Damage at Guadalupe Hall
Shattered glass covers Carroll College's Guadalupe Hall after the 1989 train explosion.
Carroll College students take shelter
Many people take shelter in a room at Carroll College following following the train explosion in 1989.
Icicles form on train wreckage
Icicles from what's left of a train car following the 1989 train explosion.
Worker repairs damage
A worker repairs the ceiling of the gym at Carroll College following the train explosion in 1989.
Cleaning debris at Central School
Ray Smith cleans glass and debris off of desks at Central School following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Hazardous area
A sign advises people to stay clear of a hazardous area following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Firefighter
A firefighter exits a structure following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Shattered windows
The 1989 train explosion shattered windows all across the Carroll College campus.Â
Damage at Carroll College
A police officer takes a photo of damage in the Carroll College PE building following the 1989 train explosion.
Shattered windows
Windows all over Carroll College were shattered when the train exploded near Carroll College in 1989.
Worker cleans dorm rooms
Kim Kinney finishes cleaning out a dorm room on the Carroll College campus after school resumed following the 1989 train explosion.
Carroll college student
A student rests following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Explosion debris
Debris can be seen near the Carroll College gym following the 1989 train explosion.
Carroll College evacuation
Students load on to a bus as they are evacuated following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Carroll College students
Carroll College students huddle under blankets to stay warm following the 1989 train explosion.
Train Explosion
Citizens help a car stuck in the snow evacuate Carroll College following the 1989 train explosion.Â
Carroll College students
Students at Carroll College huddle under blankets to stay warm following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Campus evacuation
Students and faculty evacuate on-campus housing following the train explosion near Carroll College in 1989.
Explosion debris
Debris thrown from an exploding train can be seen where it landed near a Carroll College dorm following the 1989 train explosion.
Shattered windows
Windows all over campus were shattered when the train exploded near Carroll College in 1989.
Special section
The Independent Record published a special section reviewing the month of February 1989, a month in which record cold and an exploding train dominated news headlines.
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"Infamous 1989 train explosion was one of Helena's worst disasters"
Not even close. Not even in the top 10 maybe... MAYBE in the top 25. Do people not know the history of this town? How many times it's burned down? The fires throughout the 1870's and all the buildings destroyed? The great earthquakes of 35? No one remembers their parents or grandparents talking about the new high school that was completely destroyed? All the buildings damaged throughout this towns history due to fires and earthquakes. I haven't even got into the urban renewal fiasco and how I would argue that was the biggest disaster this town has ever faced!
No, the whole train explosion depending on where you were in town either jostled some nerves and blew out a lot of windows, but as a 'disaster' it was not even comparable to the other true disasters this town has gone through. I understand there's a desire for embellishment to garner 'clicks' on stories, but c'mon!
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