It’s a cold winter’s night at Sydney’s Luna Park, nestled in the northern shore of Sydney Harbour. It’s June 9, 1979, and swarms of people ride the roller coaster and play inside Coney Island. The Tagline for the amusement park is “just for fun” - and it’s arguably one of the biggest attractions in Sydney. 

But one of the most popular rides is The Ghost Train, which runs along 180 metres of electric track, most of it in total darkness. Dancing skeletons and dragons heads and an imitation fire make the ride spine-tingling, with a haunted voice cackling: “you’ll shiver and quake on the ghost train.”

It’s almost closing time and a 12-year-old boy named Jason Holman is with four friends, about to board The Ghost Train.  For 45 years The Ghost Train has been running, without the slightest incident. Once you’re in, it only goes for two and a half minutes, but that’s enough time to deliver a thrill. 

There’s nothing out of the ordinary. Two of his friends board the ride on one carriage, and then the next two in the following carriage. 

Jason is last. 

Just moments later, Jason’s four friends, students at Waverley College in Sydney, would be dead.

He will survive, being dubbed the luckiest boy alive.

But he doesn’t feel lucky.

42 years later, he still has questions. 

 

CREDITS

Guest: Caro Meldrum-Hanna, co-creator of Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire

Host: Jessie Stephens

Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri

Producer: Gia Moylan

 

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