The Mystery of Who Derailed the Sunset Limited

On October 9, 1995, someone or someones derailed the Sunset Limited train in a remote part of the Arizona desert 21 miles from Hyder. To this day, despite a substantial reward being offered, the FBI has not been able to figure out who is responsible.

After the derailment, mysterious notes from a group that had never been heard from before or since were found, which only added to the mystery. Was this the work of an unknown group that has escaped detection by authorities? A disgruntled employee? A local with a grudge against the railroad? Or maybe something even stranger.

To add to the mystery of the Sunset Limited derailment, the attack was a near copycat of a similar train derailment in 1939, that also remains unsolved.

In this video we head out into a remote part of the Arizona desert and visit the site on the 1995 Sunset Limited derailment.

GPS location for the derailment site: 33.211882, -113.015398

[FishKepr]

I worked for Southern Pacific at the time of the incident and it was really frustrating and scary that someone could do this.
As noted, overriding the track circuit indicated that whomever was responsible had some basic knowledge of how they worked.

[angellacanfora]

This video gave me chills. In 1991, I took the Sunset Limited across country from LA to Georgia. I was a young woman and it was an epic solo journey that is a happy memory for me. A few years later, back in SoCal, I started dating a man who I worked with. He was entreprenurial (sp?), very smart, a jack-of-all-trades. As I got to know him better, though, I became increasingly alarmed. He had a dangerous side - I learned he had a meth habit, was into conspiracy theories and was a bit of a lone wolf. I broke up with him in 1994 but he started stalking me. In 1995, I participated in a study abroad program in England. I left in late August for Cambridge. Right before I left the U.S., I heard that my ex had moved to Phoenix. Now, I'm not saying he had a part in this, but the fact that it was the same train I took on my epic journey & the wreck happened right after I left for England just gives me chills. I'm extremely creeped out right now.

[IndridCool]

I’m an Arizona native and I vividly remember when this happened. I’ve always wanted to explore the area but have never had the chance. Thanks for taking us along. 👍🏼👍🏼

[allanbeamer]

I worked the extra board for Amtrak the summer of '88 out of Union Station in LA. I moved from SoCal to Utah that Fall. I was a car attendant just like the guy who died. Most of my trains went to Chicago. Once to Seattle and once this route to New Orleans. I ALWAYS worried about something like this happening. Not so much terrorism. But a derailment. Amtrak went around to the colleges to recruit. Billed it as a summer job. But once hired, they really twisted your arm to stay. I was transferring to a 4 yr school and had plans. But I know some stayed on. I didn't much like working the sleeper cars since I didn't really like being a hotel bell boy. But the open coaches were fun. Met ppl from literally everywhere. I'd already lived in Europe and spoke fluent Dutch. So it was appealing and fun. But sleeping on a 90 mph vehicle in the dark...? Was glad to finally move on. Great video. 😊

[robinwier]

Back then, I slept with a constant-on scanner near my pillow. I awoke 30-40 minutes into the call. There was no scanner activity about "railroad" for at least the next half hour. The 1st on-the-scene report was from a helo out of Phoenix. Reported 12-18 "cars" on their sides or upside down. That freaked me out, as that would surely have been a state record for an automobile accident (I still hadn't heard "railroad"). The location on the scanner traffic was a not-so-nearby town (maybe Quartzsite or Gila Bend). Then various air units started giving instructions for ground unit access. Then "railroad tracks" were mentioned. For at least 30 minutes, my brain was scrambled and my heart rate was through the roof. What a flashback you just gave me, lol.

[mssixty]

Your willingness to trek out there is greatly appreciated, along with your attention to details in your narrative.

Seeing your hike from your vehicle makes me wonder how authorities learned of the accident and how rescue was implemented.

[Jemmcanna]

I remember authorities at the time were trying to keep passengers from wandering off from the site. The reason was fear that rattlesnakes were very prevalent in the area. Thanks for another interesting story Steve.

[karlpursch]

Thanks Steve I look forward to your content on a weekly basis and it never fails to a smile or a tear depending on the episode....
Thank you from Karl in Oregon

[Jackg]

Steve, the research you put in, the script you write from that information, to the delivery and compassion of your speech, to the your background music is perfect, I don’t watch a lot of of YouTube videos all the way through, but yours are inspiring and soothing and I enjoy every minute of your work, thank you, Jack

[jerryofsanfrancisco]

This video was of particular interest to me as I worked for a subsidiary of Southern Pacific Railroad, Pacific Fruit Express. The derailment happened after the subsidiary was absorbed by SPRR. I was put on permanent furlough with 4 other people after that event which made us suspects in the crime. We sued SPRR for wrongful termination and won a small settlement. Three of the people put on permanent furlough were gay and one an elderly Chinese woman.

Twenty-one years after the derail I received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury in Arizona. As a kindness to me it was decided to be interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in San Francisco where I resided so that I did not have to travel to Arizona. After half of a day being interviewed, I was told the reason why it took a long time to be interviewed. The file that should have been used to call me in for the investigation made it's way to the bottom of the pile and not discovered until 21 years later. I was probably the last suspect interviewed in the case! It was quite an experience!

[karlpursch]

Hi Steve I want to pass along my Prayers and Condolences at the passing of your Father....I lost my pop two years ago today....
🙏🙏

[carlcotton]

I am sure glad that you haven't told all the stories of the southwest yet. I love what you guys do. Thank you!

[Furballk]

I distinctly remember being woken up by all the helicopters that early morning then reading about the derailment on the front page of the Arizona Republic. I also remember many years later, while investigating the person of interest, the authorities searched an abandoned mine shaft somewhere in the area. At the bottom of the shaft they found a few abandoned stolen cars and a sandrail. It was speculated that the sandrail may have been connected to the person of interest and the derailment but I never hear anything of it again. Thank you for still remembering the Sunset Limited crash.

[sportsflicvideo]

Steve, I’m a 60 year San Diego County native and can’t say how how much I appreciate your video tours. My wife and I have begun a list of destinations based on them. Keep up the great work. My condolences on the passing of your dad. I, fortunately, still have mine and owe him the world.
Thanks, Tim H

[johncarson]

My sons and I have been there to the site two times. It is really cleaned up. There's really very little to remind you of what happened here. Thank you so much for your excellent videos!

[scottsmith]

Thank you for the great adventures you take us on. I am disabled and not able to get out of the house like I want to. You keep things interesting and it’s a greatly appreciated.👍

[dennisrobinson]

Fascinating, I remember this incident when it happened. I was living in SD at the time. Always wondered what became of this incident and now I know. Thanks, keep them coming.

[jb]

A most interesting video, Steve, as always. The simplest answer for the aircraft joining and flying along the railroad is that railroad tracks are very useful navigational aids, as are roads and highways, especially at night and especially over the desert, where good landmark are often very scarce, and especially pre-GPS navigation. There's even a pilots joke about the practice. While IFR officially means "Instrument Flight Rules" - a method for navigating in bad visibility using radio navigation aids - the joke is that IFR stands for "I Follow Roads" or "I Follow Railroads". The desert at night, without moonlight, can be a very perilous place to fly and with out the moon one can't tell if the little lights are stars or lights on the ground.

[paulc]

I love your channel !
I look forward to it every week. ❤

[hvrails]

Another excellent session. Thank you Steve. PS- as you likely are aware, in addition to the SP Historical Society magazine review of the 1939 wreck, there was a 1978 book "Tragic Train" by Don DeNevi published on the 1939 'City of San Francisco' sabotage.