This Day in Weather History - 28th April 1928
A blizzard struck North America in April 1928, which stranded 500 train passengers for three days.
On April 28, 1928, The northeastern United States were hit by a severe snowstorm, dumping up to 35 inches of snow, with whiteout conditions caused by strong winds. As a result, travel was disrupted across many parts of North America, and several states experienced power outages due to the storm.
One affected train was the "Red Arrow" Express from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, which became stranded near Paoli, Pennsylvania. Approximately 500 unlucky passengers were stuck on the train for almost three days, from January 28 to January 31.
Some passengers burned train seats for warmth during their freezing ordeal, and they had little food or water.
As a result, the stranded passengers became a national news story, highlighting the need for better emergency planning and communication.
Eventually, the passengers were rescued by a team of workers who managed to dig through the snow to reach the train. The 1928 snowstorm was a significant event in the history of transportation and emergency response in the United States and led to legislative changes. There were several prominent passengers onboard, including a former governor of Pennsylvania.
Today the weather in Philadelphia is mild and dry.
Thank you :) ~ Mark
