Was the Train Wreck in Nevada Murder or a Mistake?

The 1939 train wreck in Harney, Nevada

According to Southern Pacific officials, it was a deliberate and murderous act of sabotage.

The mystery of what really happened at Harney has never been solved.

In August 1939, the deadliest railroad disaster in Nevada's history killed two dozen people.

The City of San Francisco, was deemed the "world's most superlative train." 

A technological marvel in engineering that cost $2 million to build.

It was proclaimed the "largest, fastest, most beautiful, powerful, and luxurious streamliner ever designed." 

The train pulled 17 coaches instead of the normal 11.

It was capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph. 

The hi-tech train cut 19 hours from the fastest previous time on its route between Chicago and Oakland, California.

The motive power consisted of six 900-horsepower engines.
The transcontinental railroad followed the Humboldt River as it meandered west across Nevada. 

The City of San Francisco raced over the high desert at speeds averaging between 75 and 110 mph. 

Saturday, August 12, 1939, the sun was setting and outside it was blistering hot.

The passengers inside the air-conditioning took no notice as they enjoyed dinner, cocktails, or playing cards.
Chief Engineer Ed Hecox, manned the throttle. 

The City of San Francisco was running late.

Hecox had increased the speed to 90 miles per hour.

The track followed the Humboldt into the west end of Paradise Canyon where it approached bridge No. 4 that spanned the river. Hecox noticed a clump of sagebrush lodged against the outside rail but thought little of it, after all it was just a little sagebrush.
The lead locomotives reached that part of the track and the train derailed. 

Later it was found out that that piece of track was deliberately removed and hidden under the sage brush and the track circuits were bypassed.

The forward locomotives slid off the rails then plunged across the bridge, plowing through the wooden track ties and rock ballast before coming to a stop upright well past the river. 

The streamliner was out of control.

The coaches snapped their connections with the engines and slammed into the old iron bridge.

Several cars fell off and crashed to the riverbed. 

The violent destruction lasted less than a minute.

It was the worst train wreck in Nevada history killing 24 passengers and crew members.

It injured 121 others with only 31 escaping unscathed.

Southern Pacific officials contended that sabotage was the cause of the derailment. 

At the site of the derailment the spikes had been pulled out of a 30-foot section of rail.

The rail then forced about 5 inches inward and then the track respiked.

Despite an extensive investigation, the case remains unsolved.