Tragedy at Cajon Pass

SKU: DVD-PNX-NV015
(7 customer reviews)

$14.95

Find out what happened on the fateful day of May 12, 1989 when a 69-car Southern Pacific freight train went out of control on California’s steep Cajon Pass and careened off the tracks into a residential neighborhood.

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Producer

Pentrex

Run Time

28 minutes

Narration

Yes

Shrink Wrap

Yes, Brand New

Technical Details

No Region Code, NTSC

The True Story of the Duffy Street IncidentFind out what happened on the fateful day of May 12, 1989 when a 69-car Southern Pacific freight train went out of control on California’s steep Cajon Pass and careened off the tracks into a residential neighborhood at 90 miles an hour. Shot by a camera crew who arrived on the scene even before the rescue workers, this dramatic video captures the whole story. See:
* Tons of heavy steel crumpled like aluminum foil
* Freight car wheels turned blue from the intense heat of braking
* The train’s potash cargo covering the landscape with a ghostly white shroud
* Heart-stopping moments of heroism as railroad and fire department crews struggle to free victims from the wreckage
* Contains graphic materials and may not be suitable for some audiences.

NOTE: Primarily 1989 news footage and still photography from the scene.

7 reviews for Tragedy at Cajon Pass

  1. rickyfreni

    It’s hard to imagine that 30 years ago, this crash was one of the most fatal train wrecks of the 80s. Some days earlier before the big crash, Union Pacific 8444, and southern pacific daylight 4449 were racing side by side on the grades of Cajon Pass, after participating in the 50th anniversary of Los Angeles union station. It’s is extremely painful, and also heart breaking to see a week long difference between the happiest days of steam powered passenger specials racing side by side upward, to a dramatic collision of a runaway diesel powered freight without any brakes at all.

  2. Joy

    I’ve been to Cajon twice and had heard of this accident. Was interesting to finally learn all the details.

  3. Don Robinson

    Short but good colour DVD in standard definition of the May 12, 1989 derailment of a 69 car potash Southern Pacific train on the west side of San Bernardino. Mostly filmed local TV camera crews along with some interviews. I never thought about how difficult it is for rescue crews to cut through the steel with torches and the “jaws of life” are useless at times. Very interesting and worth it.

  4. Anthony

    One of the best ones i have ever seen sad for the ones who were lost in the wreck. This was a tragic day for the SP & Cajon Pass we will remember the ones who were lost in this wreck.

  5. emd645e3c

    This wouldn’t normally be a dvd I would purchase, but when it came up on sale recently, it was too hard to refuse.
    The dvd is only fairly short in length, but describes the circumstances surrounding the accident. The footage all seems to have been shot during the initial search for survivors, as there’s no footage of the actual clean up.
    I thought the initial scene of a sped up SP train was a little cheesy and could have done without it. A longer version showing the clean up would of been much more interesting.
    But, for the price, it’s worth a look.

  6. jim

    A very informative video on the train derailment that took place in 1989. This video shows the great lengths the first responders went through to rescue the victims of this wreck

  7. Dylan

    Very tragic incident, but glad that it was documented for future generations to see what happed on this tragic day. Very sad day indeed, and one of the worst train wrecks in the Southern Pacific’s history.

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