Last documented train robbery in the USA

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I have been searching for days trying to find the answer to the question: What is the date of the last documented train robbery??

-- Jeffrey Stephen Peck (peck007@ibm.net), November 04, 1998

Answers

Response to Last documented train robbery in the USA?????????

On April 21, 1932, N&W Train No. 4 Eng. 133 derailed at the west end of the middle track, Union, Ohio. Investigation disclosed that the switch rod bolts had been removed; that the accident was caused by the defective condition of a facing-point switch due to malicious tampering. A postal employee was later arrested. Although he was not successful, it was thought that he INTENDED to rob the mail car.

-- Harry Bundy (y6b@aol.com), June 13, 2000.

Response to Last documented train robbery in the USA?????????

A lot depends on how you define train robberies. One of the last in the clssic style (train stopped and valuables taken at gunpoint) oc- curred in October 1924, but on the Pennsylvania shortline Cambria and Indiana. There is some evidence linking this to the "Flathead" or "Jaworski" gang that operated in Pennsylvania at this time, and also to the robbery of the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley (Laurel Line) elec- tric interurban at Moosic, near Scranton. Both incidents involved the killing of guards; in both cases, Eastern European immigrants were arrested tried, and eventually executed for the crime, but it is also likely that some of the gang were never identified and escaped jus- tice.

-- Don Shultz (des9949@techcom.net), March 10, 1999.

Response to Last documented train robbery in the USA?????????

I believe Mr. Hanson is correct. But if you want to know for sure, The HISTORY CHANNEL'S program "TRAINS UNLIMITED" has the exact answer. They have a special program on railroad robberies. I've seen it myself several months ago but can't remember exactly. It broadcasts every Thursday night at 11:00pm EST. At the end of each program, they advertise a web site and an 800 number if you would like to order any of the shows on videotape.

-- Andrew Callo (calloa@ncsavx.ncarts.edu), November 12, 1998.

Response to Last documented train robbery in the USA?????????

While I am not absolutely certain, I believe the last train robbery in the US occurred in the 1920's (1924, I think) on the Milwaukee Road at Rondout, Illinois.

Bob Hanson

-- Robert H. Hanson (RHanson669@aol.com), November 08, 1998.


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