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Blizzards were Common

The winter of 1880-81 was fine until about February 15, and then we had a blizzard regularly every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (three days) for six weeks. There are  not many men now living in Southern Iowa who have seen an old time blizzard where the strong wind from the northwest filled with ice and snow was impossible to face it or see any object, even a house or barn, 20 feet away. Persons have lost their way and perished trying to go to the house or barn and vice versa. But storms of that feature will never come again. The country is too well settled up. Too many groves, buildings and corn fields. In those days there were very few wind breaks from a little ways north of Cedar Rapids to southern Minnesota. When the blizzard blew itself out, the sun would come out the following day and with no wind at all it was really pleasant to be outdoors. Then to open up the road took two to three days with two engines and 30 to 40 men. It was frequently the case that the north and south lines would not be blocked at all but the east and west lines got it bad. I have seen six engines on a four car train trying to break the way. I have known engines to be derailed on hard snow but do not recall anyone ever getting injured. To run into a snow drift was like jumping into a feather bed.

There are only a few of the old timers left, but it is always a pleasure to meet them and recall the days when railroading in Iowa was primitive. Talk about hard times. Some of the present day men don’t know the meaning of the word. I have known the section foreman to bury the only emergency rail he had for fear the roadmaster would see it and order it sent to some other section.
From the Rock Island Magazine, Sept. 1925