Monday, June 8, 2015

A Train Story For Monday Mysteries...!

Sometimes we have mysteries involving ships, but today we are going to go with trains!

There are actually more train mysteries than you would think. We are talking unsolved murder, disappearances, man-made derailments...all kinds of stuff. Should be a good change of pace since many of our readers have a past connection with trains. You know who you are!

The Sunset Limited Derailment

On October 9, 1995, an Amtrak passenger train known as the Sunset Limited was making a routine trip from Los Angeles to Miami. At approximately 1:40 AM, it was crossing over a trestle in a remote desert area of Arizona when it suddenly jumped the tracks and derailed, sending four of its cars crashing 9 meters (30 ft) into a ravine. An attendant named Mitchell Bates was killed in the crash and over 100 people were injured.

It quickly became clear that the derailment was a deliberate act of sabotage—29 spikes had been removed from the track so that the rails could be shifted out of position. The perpetrator was careful to keep the rail’s signal circuits intact, so that the train would not be alerted about any problems with the track. This suggested that whoever was responsible had an intimate knowledge of railroads.

In fact, the method used to derail the Sunset Limited was very similar to an act of sabotage from 1939, which caused a passenger train called the City of San Francisco to derail in the Nevada desert, killing 24 people. An article about the City of San Francisco crash had been published in a train journal shortly before the Sunset Limited derailment and may have inspired the perpetrator.

At the crash site, investigators found four typewritten copies of a note claiming responsibility for the attack. The notes were signed “Sons of the Gestapo” and criticized controversial incidents involving the ATF and FBI, such as the Ruby Ridge siege of 1992 and the Waco siege of 1993. However, investigators have yet to uncover any evidence supporting the actual existence of a group known as “Sons of the Gestapo.” The perpetrator remains unidentified.


My biggest question is always this. If the people responsible for acts of terrorism such as this are so proud of their actions, why do they not make themselves known? Why hide behind some phony name, and just come out and say who they are? Seems a bit cowardly to me, ya know?

Coffee out on the patio this morning, I think. The birds are really active early!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Well that may be because terrorist are foremost cowards. They would rather hurt innocent people than do something constructive.

linda m said...

I think Wade "hit the nail on the head" with his comment. Their objective is to hurt as many people as possible in the name of their cause. And yes, they are cowards , otherwise they would "show their face". Would love coffee on the patio. I have some fresh baked buttermilk biscuits and some honey I'll bring.

Chickenmom said...

Sad stories. I think there are going to more 'accidents' in the future. With thousands and thousands of miles of tracks out in the open, some crazy will try again. Few realize how much what economy we have left depends on rail service.
Biscuits and honey will hit the spot this morning, Linda. Thanks!

JO said...

I remember this tragic accident but didn't know the cause. terrorist or just sick people for sure and yes to the cowards who play them out.

Kind of over cast here this morning and warm I better get out and start packing up the truck. But coffee first.

Mamahen said...

There are so much evil in our world and I agree they are cowards to do these things...bisciuts n honey sound good ....I'm on my way :))

Mamahen said...

There IS so much evil..proof proof proof lol

Dizzy-Dick said...

Both my Dad's and my Mother's fathers were railroaders in the good old steam days. One was an engineer an one was a conductor. I saw a couple of train wrecks and in one, the engine went into the Allegheny River and there was fears of the hot boiler blowing up, but it didn't. I pity the young people of today who have never heard a steam whistle at night or heard the chug chug of the engine. I don't miss the smoke and soot, though.

HermitJim said...

Hey Wade...
I'm afraid that you are right. Who knows what goes on in their twisted minds.

Thanks for coming by today!



Hey Linda...
Biscuits and honey are always welcome!

That does seem to be their aim, for sure. Hey, thanks for stopping by this morning!



Hey Phyllis...
I'm afraid you're right about that. The danger is always present, I reckon!

Thanks for stopping in today!



Hey Jo...
Hasn't been that long ago, has it?

Gonna need that coffee to get ya started, right? Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!



Hey Mamahen...
Looks like there will always be plenty of Evil to go around.

Thanks for the visit today!



Hey Dizzy...
I would imagine that seeing such a wreak as that while being young must have been a terrible thing. I hope we don't have to see many more in our lifetime.

Thanks for dropping by today!