Southern Pacific Trail Sunset Limited 1995 Train Derailment

#307 #southernpacific #SunsetLimited #trains #abandonedplaces #abandonedtown #railroad #derailment
In this video we took the Southern Pacific Trail to the Sunset Limited 1995 derailment site.
Because of the way the tracks were sabotaged, It’s believed the suspect or suspects may have had some inside knowledge about the train and tracks, possibly an employee. Along with notes found at the scene, railroad spikes had been removed and left by the track. Whoever did this overrode the railroad's safety system so the train conductor had no idea what was coming. Acting FBI Agent Larry McCormick said "They had tampered with the tracks. And it was done in such a way that someone knew how to derail a train."
Patricia Borre was the only dispatcher on duty in the nearby city of Buckeye. All of the fire and ambulance employees were volunteers at the time. Patricia sent out a page for the mass rescue. It was dark, and miles away from the nearest help.
Rescue workers were driving off-road through dried-up riverbeds. Farmers were asked to clear the dirt roads. Lights were set up for the rescuers to get to work..
Passenger Brian Hamblet recounts what happened:
"You could hear the train clacking along the tracks ... and I felt the train lift a little bit and then it started to tilt sideways very slowly," Hamblet says. "And after that, it dropped pretty fast."
"Everyone was waking up and realizing what was going on as we were falling," he says. "I remember screaming to my wife and my wife screaming back, and as it turned out we were both fine." They climbed up and into the other compartments to escape through the window and then went back to help the injured.
This derailment was similar to a 1939 derailment in the middle of the desert near Harney Nevada. There was an article published about the 1939 case in the Fall of 1995, not long before this derailment occurred. Some believe this could've been a copycat.
3 notes were found at the scene that were described as a typewritten, anti-government manifesto signed, "Sons of Gestapo." Prior to this investigation, no one had ever heard of the Sons of Gestapo. And no one has heard of them since.
I read that after the derailment, the Sunset Limited was rerouted in 1996 bypassing Phoenix. Whether this was an act of terrorism or an act of revenge is unknown, either way, it does appear to have been intentional.
30 years later, this case remains unsolved. The FBI still has an open case on the investigation. They have a reward of $250,000, Amtrak has a reward of up to $50,000 and Maricopa County’s Attorneys office has a reward of up to $10,000. Anyone with information is asked to report it to the FBI Phoenix office @ 623-466-1999 or tips.fbi.gov
Music was from Epidemic Sound
New Morning By: Lindsay Abraham
Stuck in the Moment By: Alex Capelli
The Last Mile By: Hunting for Sunsets
Weathered Souls By: American Leigon

[@r.jakesomers7995]

Great video. I'm sorry I missed the chance to go up to the tracks and see when the coaches first went on the ground. Passenger coaches are designed to stay upright if they derail, they probably didn't stand a chance when they reached the trestle on a curve. Whoever caused this derailment probably knew this too and it is one of the reasons is was chosen to sabotage to tracks.

[@RamblinPam]

@@r.jakesomers7995 I really appreciate all of your contribution in this video. 👍Thanks so much Jake

[@jeremydoggett5005]

We have some spectacular gyp hills in southern KS. If you ever venture this way, I would love to break bread with you two.

[@Wheres_Bobby]

Very interesting story and video.

[@jeremydoggett5005]

Thanks for sharing your adventures Pam! Very informative and interesting places you and Ken visit.

[@RamblinPam]

@@jeremydoggett5005 Thank you Jeremy, I always enjoy hearing from you. 😊

[@Wheres_Bobby]

Lol 🤣😂🤣 "Ken"

[@volleydoll9483]

I love your adventures, especially where trains are involved.! Good seeing you and Bob! Love you!

[@RamblinPam]

@@volleydoll9483 Thank you so much. Yes, I love trains too. They always remind me of grandpa. 🥰 Love you too!

[@volleydoll9483]

@@RamblinPam I found Dad's SP keyring insignia and I carry it with me everyday

[@RamblinPam]

@ that’s awesome!

[@kptbillburkett8735]

Aloha and Great Video 📹. I thought your bronco was a 4 weel drive 🚗 🤔. Well we are having fun with Madam Peley still pumping out lava. Ya'll should fly out and take a look. Robin would love seeing 👀 ya'll again. And you could hear about the ghost stories of ancient hawaiians warriors that Pele stopped from taking out a village in the night 🌙. You can still hear them at night. I believe it is the whales 🐋 talking to each other. Ok, thanks again for a Great video. Robin sends her love. Aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii! Aloha and Cheers 🍻

[@RamblinPam]

@@kptbillburkett8735 lol Yes the Bronco is 4WD but the hills and ruts were deceiving in the video. Much larger in person. Wow all the ghost stories sounds very interesting! I hope you guys are safe where you are. Thanks so much for keeping in touch! 😊

[@Wheres_Bobby]

That hill was way steeper than it looks. At the top was a one to two foot ledge that that I would have to crawl up. I kept loosing traction in the loose rocks and dirt. I would love to try that a few more times, but it is 20 miles from a paved road with no cell phone service.

[@DillardDenton-qu4winds]

You have the wheels for off road, finish the journey as you look to the hills head yo the sawtooth and through

[@RamblinPam]

I'll have to keep that in mind!

[@DillardDenton-qu4winds]

Are you going threw the old sibiria. It was said that the derail was intended, the switch trac has been removed

[@DillardDenton-qu4winds]

Inventory oll the rail cars still on the tracs, Canada had full railways before they rebranded themselves and left Americans to tax