I was just watching a movie that took place in the 1800's and the train was travelling long distance in the winter. It got me wondering what would happen if the engine broke down, and they were left in the cold?
What would the procedures have been?
How prepared were the railroads for something like this, as far as finding ways to keep the passengers warm, safe, fed, with water, etc?
Did they send out parties to get help, if possible?
Are there any cases of it happening, and if so, did it ever turn into disaster? Were people ever stranded for days/weeks/longer at a time?
Yes, early trains did break down, (As all present day "modern" transportation still does, remember, that trains in the 1800's were "modern" transportation). The procedures for break downs on trains were as varied as the type of break downs that could occur with the technology of the time period.
Remember that trains were very seldom, in the modern sense, "In the middle of nowhere". The engine needed a constant resupply of fuel (Usually Coal,) and water for the boiler. A relatively large supply of these things were often carried behind the engine in a Tender Car, but still, the Tender Car also had to be resupplied, so the railroad had resupply stations (Train Depots) built at fairly regular intervals along the route.
How did it go when you broke down somewhere between Depots? The first procedure would be for the train personnel to try and repair the problem and limp into the nearest station. If that wasn't possible, (damaged track, train snowed in), Then the a crewman would go for help. The Conductor was basically the Captain of the train, he would take charge of the emergency procedures, see to the safety of the passengers and freight, and would send a man up or down the track to bring help. It was usually better for the one going for help to head for the trains destination depot, because if the train was really (many hours) late, the Depot master would be required/inclined to send a horseback rider down the track to find out what the problem was.
Keeping passengers warm during colder months? Passenger cars were built with small coal stoves in one corner of the car. http://imgur.com/xBZcLYH In the winter months, seating near this heat source would have been the their equivalent of a modern day "First Class" airline ticket.
Food, Railroads didn't start supplying food/dining cars until about the end of the civil war, and they were still uncommon going into the 1880's. Passengers either ate at the (sometimes sketchy), establishments at the train stops, or, more commonly brought a carry on meal with them into the passenger car, so, in a long breakdown, having your own food could be a valuable resource.
Source... https://pafoodways.omeka.net/exhibits/show/table/articles/dining-on-the-railroad
Here's a rather good story of a famous (To some...) train stranded in the snow. Courtesy of the Central Pacific Railroad History Museum.
http://cprr.org/Museum/Stranded_Streamliner_1952/
Keep in mind that this was in 1952! One can imagine what kind of effort it would take to recover from something like this 100 years previous to this incident.