Train Robberies of America – Legends of America

The history of the American West is interwoven with tales of daring heists, notorious outlaws, and the relentless expansion of the railroads. Among these stories, the train robbery stands out as a uniquely American crime, a symbol of lawlessness and adventure that captured the imagination of the public. While train robberies did occur in other countries like Canada, Mexico, and South America, they were relatively rare and often attributed to American perpetrators. This phenomenon experienced its most rampant phase in the years following the Civil War, peaking in 1893-1894, before gradually fading into obscurity by the 1930s.

The Rise of Train Robbery

The post-Civil War era was a tumultuous period in American history, marked by widespread unemployment, economic hardship, and a general breakdown of law and order. This environment provided fertile ground for the emergence of numerous desperadoes and outlaw gangs who sought to exploit the vulnerabilities of the burgeoning railroad system. The Reno Gang, hailing from Indiana, is often credited with pioneering the train robbery as a criminal enterprise.

On October 6, 1866, the Reno brothers executed what is considered one of the first train robberies in American history. They boarded an Ohio & Mississippi Railroad passenger train near Seymour, Indiana, and targeted an Adams Express Company car. Disguised with masks and armed with guns, they swiftly subdued the guards, looted one safe, and tossed another out of the train before making their escape. This brazen act sent shockwaves throughout the nation and marked the beginning of a long and violent era of train robberies.

The Pinkerton National Detective Agency was tasked with bringing the Reno Gang to justice, but their success did little to deter other criminals. The Seymour incident ignited a wave of train robberies across the country. Within weeks, two trains were derailed and their payroll cars robbed. In 1868, an Adams Express car was once again targeted in Seymour, this time with the expressman being thrown from the train before the safes were emptied of over $40,000.

The Lure of the Rails

During this period, express cars owned by companies like Wells Fargo and American Express served as mobile banks, transporting financial instruments, currency, precious metals, and other valuable goods. These cars became irresistible targets for criminals seeking a quick and substantial score.

The media also played a role in fueling the train robbery phenomenon. Newspapers often sensationalized these crimes, exaggerating the amounts of money stolen, the ease with which the robberies were committed, and the audacity of the outlaws. This coverage romanticized the act of train robbery and appealed to hardened criminals seeking fame and fortune.

As the railroad pushed westward, it opened up new opportunities for highwaymen and bandits. Rather than robbing a handful of stagecoach passengers, armed gunmen could now target hundreds of people on a single train, vastly increasing their potential profits.

The Anatomy of a Train Robbery

The popular image of train robbers leaping from horseback onto moving trains, as often depicted in Hollywood movies, is largely a myth. In reality, train robberies were typically carried out in one of two ways:

Infiltration: Outlaws would board the train as ordinary passengers and wait for the opportune moment to initiate the heist. They would then draw their weapons, subdue the guards and passengers, and proceed to loot the train.
Obstruction: Outlaws would stop or derail the train by placing obstacles on the tracks or tampering with the train’s mechanics. Once the train was immobilized, they would storm the train and carry out the robbery.

Payroll shipments were particularly lucrative targets, even though they were guarded by armed expressmen. Bandits would often overpower the guard at gunpoint and force him to open the safe. If the guard refused or did not have the combination, the outlaws would resort to using dynamite to blow the safe open, often causing significant damage to the train and endangering the lives of those on board.

Famous Train Robbers and Their Exploits

The annals of American history are filled with the names of notorious train robbers who terrorized the railroads and captured the public’s imagination. Some of the most famous include:

The Reno Gang: As mentioned earlier, the Reno Gang is credited with pioneering the train robbery as a criminal enterprise. Their exploits in Indiana marked the beginning of a long and violent era of train robberies in the United States.
Jesse James: A legendary figure of the Wild West, Jesse James and his gang robbed numerous banks, stagecoaches, and trains throughout the Midwest. His daring heists and reputation for eluding law enforcement made him a folk hero to some and a villain to others.
Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch: Led by Butch Cassidy, the Wild Bunch terrorized the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada for five years. Their most famous train robbery occurred in Wilcox, Wyoming, in 1899, when they blew up an express car and made off with a substantial amount of money.
The Dalton Gang: The Dalton Gang robbed banks and trains in Kansas and Oklahoma until they were killed in the Coffeyville, Kansas Raid.

The Decline of Train Robbery

As train robberies became more frequent and audacious, the railroad companies began to take measures to protect their assets and passengers. They added massive, unmovable safes to their trains and hired armed guards to protect payroll shipments. Some even added cars with armed men and horses who could be deployed to chase down any bandits who robbed the train.

By the turn of the 20th century, these measures, combined with increased law enforcement efforts, began to take their toll on train robbers. Many of the most famous outlaws, including Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and the other members of the Wild Bunch gang, had been captured, killed, or were no longer operating in the United States.

The Legacy of Train Robbery

Train robberies had a significant impact on American society. They resulted in considerable loss of life and property, disrupted public transportation, and hindered the movement of people and goods across the United States. The violence associated with train robberies often left lasting scars on the communities affected.

The successful elimination of train robberies stabilized rail transportation and, in part, signaled the taming of the "Wild West." The era of lawlessness and banditry that had plagued the American frontier was gradually coming to an end.

Railroad Law Enforcement Today

Although train robbery is nearly obsolete today, the railroads still employ full-time law enforcement personnel to protect their interests. From the beginning, the railroad special agents’ responsibilities have been similar to those of public law enforcement—protecting society (both life and property) and preventing and detecting crime. As a result, the railroad special agent of today is educated, well-trained, and equipped.

Agent responsibilities include the protection of personnel, cargo, and property. Investigations relating to thefts of cargo, burglaries of company property, and acts of vandalism occupy most of the agent’s time. However, railroad special agents also investigate train derailments, extortion attempts, crimes of violence, and many other felony and misdemeanor crimes that involve railroad interests.

The train robbery era may be a thing of the past, but its legacy lives on in the stories, legends, and folklore of the American West. It serves as a reminder of a time when lawlessness and adventure reigned supreme, and the railroads were both a symbol of progress and a target for those who sought to defy the established order.