Abstract
This work will serve examine the known and unknown factors based on data
surrounding the Sunset Limited train derailment occurring October, 25th
1995 some 75 miles outside of Phoenix, Arizona. The attempted identification of
potential suspects will be explored as well as the possible motivations for
carrying out the act. Each of these will be supported by available resources
highlighting this terrible incident.
Mystery of the
Sunset Limited
What We Know
The Sunset Limited train
derailment occurred near the desert town of Palo Verde Arizona, claiming the
life of one rail worker; Mitchell Bates (Enea, 2016) .
In addition to the long time rail worker’s death, the sabotage injured a dozen
other passengers seriously, and included minor injuries to 100 others (McCabe, 2015) . Though the train
was traveling in a remote section of Arizona, with little in the way of
population to be had, the Amtrak-operated cars were carrying 258 passengers
when they left the track.
Following
the accident, investigators determined the crash was caused by tampering with
the tracks the Sunset Limited used in countless journeys beforehand.
Specifically, bolts were removed along a curved section of the track that made
a 3 foot long connecting bar unstable for the cars to travel upon (Mydans, 1995) .
In
another important discovery, 4 hand written notes calling out various local and
national law enforcement organizations were found at the scene. A group calling
themselves the “Sons of Gestapo” claimed responsibility (Enea, 2016) .
Developing a
Suspect(s)
While
much speculation has been made concerning the “who done it” around this case
within the past 23 years, the FBI has had little in the way of activity on
solving the crime.
The Inside Job. When Amtrak
official Thomas M. Downs was interviewed about the matter he offered the idea
of internal tampering, or corporate sabotage. "I don't know if this is a
disgruntled employee of ours or another railroad, or someone else,"(Mydans, 1995) .
While
Downs’ statement does not completely rule out the possibility of outside
interference, it does at least allude to the fact that the person(s)
responsible would have to have some knowledge of the workings of the railroad,
exploitation of the track’s curvature at the point that it was tampered with,
and the timing of the railcars.
Terrorist Agenda. Who are (were) the
Sons of the Gestapo? Mysterious right wing fanatics? A clandestine
anti-government organization? Or a distraction meant to throw federal
investigators off the trail of the true perpetrators?
The
truth is no one knows. A cursory search via the mighty internet and widely used
social media outlets yields few results.
However,
one article claims to have found at least a few Arizona residents who have
knowledge of members of the Sons operating in and around Gila Bend, Arizona (Wood, 1995) . Although, this
“report” must be taken with a grain of salt as it is rife with stereotypical
ideas about Arizona citzens, generalizations about rural living and absent of
key interviewees as on the record. To demonstrate, the piece goes so far as to
refer to Arizona as a “safe haven” for the gun-toting disenfranchised (Wood, 1995) .
Random Act. Is it possible that a
random individual or group carried out this attack on a whim?
As
stated, the derailment occurred at a near-abandoned locale, devoid of potential
witnesses. This location would be ideal for someone wanting to cause chaos with
little fear of being seen. It may also be indicative of a lack of higher-level
planning necessary to carry out the attack in a more populated point along the
route.
Potential
Motivation
As mentioned the 4 page typed
“manifesto” left at the scene outlined distrust and distain for both local and
national law enforcement. However, by itself how might the sabotage of Sunset
Limited connect with the views expressed in the letter?
The Inside Job? The Sunset
Limited itself is no stranger to the news. The route runs through several major
metropolitan areas. According to Amtrak’s website heavily populated cities such
as Los Angeles, Tucson, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Orlando are key
stops from coast to coast (National Railroad Passenger Corporation, 2018) . Further, the cars
pass through several other hubs: Palm Springs, El Paso and Pomona.
The
path of tracks now known as Sunset Limited was first created back in 1874.
Amtrak assumed control of the route in 1971(National Railroad Passenger Corporation, 2018) . During that time
the Sunset Limited transcontinental route has had more than its share of
misfortune. One year before the incident in Arizona, the route suffered a prior
crash in Mobile, Alabama, due to a barge colliding with the Big Bayou Canot
bridge. The Sunset Limited traveled onto the bridge shortly after it began
collapsing. This is widely regarded as Amtrak’s deadliest crash to date, as it
took the lives of 47 passengers (Labaton, 1994) .
However,
it is important to note this fatal incident was not the work of saboteurs as
investigators charged barge operator Willie Odom with gross negligence (Labaton, 1994) .
Conversely,
lending credence to Mr. Downs’ theory is Amtrak’s rocky relationship with its
union-backed employees. The company has had several union disputes over pay,
benefits and safety, with more than one of them making national news and
threatening to delay passenger and freight travel.
As
recently as this month, union officials are still battling Amtrak’s parent
company; National Railroad Passenger
Corporation, for what they consider subcontracting practices that subverts the
utilization of union employees (Dodd, 2018) .
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| copyright Amtrak |
Terrorist Agenda? “Sons of Gestapo” has
a nice neo-Nazi ring to it. If the Sons ever did exist- or still do- they have
an uncanny knack for flying under the radar.
This
ability runs counter to most terrorist groups (domestic or otherwise), as
typically they usually follow up a first attack with consecutive ones. You
might hear tales of recruitment, propaganda, indoctrination and threats against
the establishment. With the so-called Sons of Gestapo the trail runs cold, even
lacking so much as participating in public protests.
Also,
if the goal of a terrorist, operating alone, or in a group is to bring
attention to its cause/belief system, why sabotage the tracks in such a remote
area? Why not take the time and brood over additional plans in order to
maximize the resulting carnage and media coverage?
However,
let me be clear this writer is not asking these questions as a challenge to
anyone that might take up the Son’s mantle. They are being asked only as
relevant to the ongoing investigation as a terrorist attack.
Random Act? While we love to think
there is a grandiose scheme at play, it is worthwhile to consider that whoever
was behind the Sunset Limited derailment had no “ultimate agenda.”
Of
course it makes for high drama and a better story if we think that a mastermind
of sorts had concocted a nefarious plan in an effort to stick it to the
government. Such is the content of action movies and serialized novels.
Rather,
a more grounded approach might be to consider the possibility of a person
familiar with the area that simply had the urge to act out in a violent manner.
Perhaps they were under the influence of chemicals, or mentally ill. Is that
notion as far-fetched as an anti-government conspiracy? One might even imagine
the individual(s) responsible having some loose affiliation, or at least
awareness to the little-known Sons of
Gestapo. Could it be the perpetrator only referenced the group as a nod to
the small faction, or as a red herring for investigators?
Besides
the information presented above, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office picked up
two men who had been drinking and traveled out to the crash site in the morning
hours leading up to the derailment (Mydans, 1995) . Then, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe
Arpaio was quoted as saying these men were not connected to the crime, and were
subsequently released. Arpaio also went on record as stating he believed the
act to be one of domestic terrorism, strictly due to the notes referencing the
Waco, Texas compound incident, and that of Ruby Ridge standoff in Idaho (Mydans, 1995) .
Conclusion
As of this writing the FBI still
considers the Sunset Limited derailment an open case. The Bureau alone has
issued a $250,000 reward to anyone that comes forward with information leading
to the capture of any responsible party (McCabe, 2015) .
So
the question remains, who is guilty?
It
is this writer’s opinion that the person(s) responsible acted separate from any
identifiable extremist group. This idea is predicated upon the fact that
despite the large sum of reward money, no one has come forward with any
information related to the Sons of Gestapo to date. Further, based on the
evidence surrounding the case, and the lack of any succeeding acts, the attack
was likely an isolated one. Making the Sunset Limited derailment, perhaps not a
random incident, but one where conspiracy theories and ostentatious villainy do
not apply.
Certainly,
the public may never know who was truly responsible.
References
ABC15 Arizona. (2015, April 9). FBI Offers Reward in
Sunset Limited Tragedy. Retrieved from YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWVGmkcWWmo
Dodd,
J. (2018, March 1). BMWE 3014. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees:
http://www.bmwe3014.org/Latest_news/amtrak/2018/contracting_out_issue/anderson_co ntracting_letter_with_attachments_3.1.2018.pdf
Enea,
J. (2016, October 9). Old Time Crime: Unsolved mystery, Amtrak passenger
train sabotaged outside Hyder Arizona
in 1995. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from ABC 15: https://www.abc15.com/news/crime/old-time-crime-amtrak-passenger-train-sabotaged- outside- hyder-arizona-in-1995
Labaton,
S. (1994, June 22). Barge Pilot Blamed in Fatal Amtrak Wreck. Retrieved
March 11, 2018, from New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/22/us/barge-pilot- blamed-in- fatal-amtrak-wreck.html
McCabe,
J. (2015, April 10). $310,000 Reward Offered in Exchange for Information
Leading to the Arrest and Conviction
of the Individual(s) Responsible for the Derailment of the Sunset Limited Passenger Train.
Retrieved from Federal Bureau of Investigation: https://www.fbi.gov/contact- us/field-offices/phoenix/news/press-releases/310-000- reward-offered-in-exchange-for- information-leading-to-the-arrest-and-conviction-of-the- individual-s-responsible-for-the- derailment-of-the-sunset-limited-passenger-train
Mydans,
S. (1995). Sabatoge Derails Arizona Train; One is Killed and 100 are Hurt.
Retrieved from New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/10/us/sabotage-derails- arizona-train- one-is-killed-and-100-are-hurt.html
National
Railroad Passenger Corporation. (2018, November). Sunset Limited.
Retrieved March 11, 2018, from
Amtrak:
Wood,
D. B. (1995, October 13). On the Dusty Trail of the Amtrak Terrorists.
Retrieved March 11, 2018, from
Cristian Science Monitor: https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/1013/13012.html
