View source for 1939 City of San Francisco derailment

On August 12, 1939, the City of San Francisco train derailed near Harney, Nevada, resulting in 24 deaths and 121 injuries. The derailment was caused by sabotage, with tracks deliberately moved out of alignment and camouflaged. The train, traveling from Oakland to Chicago, was operated by Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) in Nevada. Engineer Ed Hecox survived and alerted authorities after the crash occurred at a high embankment near a bridge over the Humboldt River.

Five cars were destroyed, and SP tracks were out of service for several months. Rescue efforts were hindered until a relief train arrived the next morning to take survivors to Elko. Divers later found tools in the river, confirming sabotage. Investigators estimated it would take a strong person about an hour to move the tracks, with some believing multiple individuals were involved.

SP offered a $5,000 reward, increased to $10,000, but no arrests led to convictions. Media coverage criticized SP for compensation practices and suggested negligence, though officials maintained the derailment was sabotage. The case drew renewed attention after a similar 1995 derailment in Arizona, with parallels like moved tracks on a bridge and bypassed circuits. However, no connection was proven, leaving both incidents unsolved.

The City of San Francisco derailment remains Nevada's deadliest rail disaster, unsolved despite years of investigation by SP and the FBI.