Kate and the Midnight Express

A wild storm rolled through the fields. It was a summer night about 150 years ago. Kate Shelley lived on her family’s farm in Iowa. The 17-year-old watched as huge raindrops splattered against her window. Nearby, water rushed through Honey Creek. 

Kate worried about the bridge over the creek. A lot of trains crossed that bridge. In fact, a big train called the Midnight Express was heading toward the bridge that night.

Kate wondered: Would the bridge hold up through the treacherous storm?

 A wild storm moved through the fields. It was a summer night about 150 years ago. Kate Shelley was a 17-year-old girl who lived on her family’s farm in Iowa. She watched as huge raindrops hit her window. A nearby creek filled with water. It was called Honey Creek. 

Kate worried about the bridge over Honey Creek. A lot of trains crossed that bridge. In fact, a big train called the Midnight Express was heading toward the bridge that night.

Kate wondered to herself: Would the bridge hold up through the treacherous storm?

Later that night, Kate heard a loud crash. She knew her worst fears had come true: The Honey Creek Bridge had fallen down! But the Midnight Express was still coming. If the engineer driving the train didn’t know that the bridge was broken, the train could crash—and the 200 people on board could die.

Kate sprang out of bed. She had to stop the train before it reached Honey Creek. But how? The train’s final stop before the bridge was Moingona (moyn-GOH-nah) Station. If Kate could get to that station quickly, she could tell them to stop the Midnight Express. But would she make it in time?

Later that night, Kate heard a loud crash. She knew her worst fears had come true: The Honey Creek Bridge had fallen down! But the Midnight Express was still coming. If the driver of the train (called an engineer) didn’t know that the bridge was broken, the train could crash. The 200 people on board could die.

Kate sprang out of bed. She had to stop the train before it reached Honey Creek. But how? The train’s final stop before the bridge was Moingona (moyn-GOH-nah) Station. If Kate could get to that station quickly, she could tell them to stop the Midnight Express. But would she make it in time?

Kate grabbed a lantern and dashed through the storm. Time was running out. And the journey would be dangerous. Kate ran until she got to the Des Moines River Bridge. To get to Moingona Station, she would have to cross this giant bridge . . . by crawling across it!

Kate took a deep breath. Then she started feeling her way across the bridge. Whoosh! A strong wind blew out her lantern. Kate could hardly see. But she kept crawling. 

At last, she made it across the bridge and sprinted to the station. 

Kate grabbed a lantern and dashed through the storm. Time was running out. And the journey would be dangerous. Kate ran until she got to the Des Moines River Bridge. To get to Moingona Station, she would have to cross this giant bridge . . . by crawling across it!

Kate took a deep breath. Then she felt her way across the bridge. Whoosh! A strong wind blew out her lantern. Kate could hardly see. But she kept crawling. Finally, she made it across the bridge. Then she sprinted to the station.

“The bridge over Honey Creek collapsed!” Kate yelled. 

The people at Moingona Station were astonished. They couldn’t believe this girl had made it all the way there in the middle of a storm. The Midnight Express had already stopped before the station, and the people were safe. But Kate was still a hero. She had risked her life to save the train.

Newspapers across the country wrote about Kate’s courageous journey. A street and a train were named after her. In 2009, a bridge was too!

Kate grew up to work at the very same station that she had raced to on that stormy night long ago. And she is still remembered as a hero today.

“The bridge over Honey Creek collapsed!” Kate yelled. 

The people at Moingona Station were astonished. They couldn’t believe this girl had made it all the way there in the middle of a storm. The Midnight Express had already stopped before the station. The people were safe. But Kate was still a hero. She had risked her life to save the train.

Newspapers across the country wrote about Kate’s courageous journey. A street and a train were named after her. In 2009, a bridge was too!

Kate grew up to work at the very same station that she had raced to on that stormy night long ago. And she is still remembered as a hero today.

I grew up in Iowa near where Kate was from. I learned all about her as a kid! My friends and I used to play “Kate Shelley” at recess. We would crawl across the playground and pretend it was the train bridge. I really admired Kate’s bravery.

I grew up in Iowa near where Kate was from. I learned all about her as a kid! My friends and I used to pretend to be Kate Shelley at recess. We would crawl across the playground and pretend it was the train bridge. I really admired Kate’s bravery.

I felt a little bit like Kate feeling my way through the darkness—I didn’t know what I was going to find! I spent hours reading books and old newspaper articles. I also interviewed a Kate Shelley expert and people at museums. 

I felt a little bit like Kate feeling my way through the dark. I didn’t know what I was going to find! I spent hours reading books and old newspaper articles. I also interviewed a Kate Shelley expert and people at museums.

Kate was scared that night, but she was courageous. She stayed calm and did what she had to do to help others. Kate taught me that doing difficult or scary things can be rewarding—whether it’s crawling across a bridge or writing a story!

Kate was scared that night, but she was courageous. She stayed calm and did what she had to do to help others. Kate taught me that doing difficult or scary things, like crawling across a bridge or writing a story, can be rewarding.

There are stories all around you. Ask your family or other adults to tell you their history or the history of your community. I bet you’ll discover incredible tales!

There are stories all around you. Ask your family or other adults to tell you their history or the history of your community. I bet you’ll hear incredible stories!