Episode 54

In July of 1979, seven people would walk through the iconic clown face gates at the Luna Park amusement park in Sydney, Australia but they would not walk out. That July night, a horrific fire occurred in the Ghost Train ride that would claim the lives of six children and one adult. The fire was devastating and despite the nearly total destruction of the site, investigators would announce less than 24 hours after the fire that they'd identified the cause, an electrical fault. However, one man spent the next 3 decades of his life on a crusade to prove that the fire was not a tragic accident but was intentionally set. This is Part 1 of our coverage of Sydney's Luna Park Ghost Train fire and one man's mission to uncover a web of deceit, lies, and astounding corruption that robbed the families of the 7 victims of justice for over 40 years. Keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times, this is going to be a bumpy ride. 

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

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Source List:

Mavety, John (Director), (2021). Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire [Streaming]. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 

https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/8758705/fresh-report-into-deadly-luna-park-fire-to-stay-secret/

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/aug/30/independent-review-criticises-abcs-luna-park-ghost-train-fire-series-over-neville-wran-claim

https://coroners.nsw.gov.au/documents/findings/1979/luna_park_fire_1977_-_findings.pdf

https://quadrant.org.au/news-opinions/uncategorized/the-abc-wont-let-facts-ruin-a-good-beat-up/

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/luna-park-s-big-smile-gets-a-facelift-to-honour-those-who-saved-it-20230502-p5d4zx.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_Park_Sydney

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-10/nsw-luna-park-ghost-train-fire-redacted-police-report-coroner/104331968

https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/the-luna-park-ghost-train-incident-1979

https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/conversations/luna-park-tragedy-exposed-with-second-inquiry-possible/

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/mar/24/exposed-the-ghost-train-fire-review-a-devastating-and-revelatory-series

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/news/29775-how-ghost-train-fire-exposed-remarkable-police-corruption--yet-also-failed-abc%27s-high-journalistic-standards

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9349201/Luna-Park-Ghost-Train-fire-survivor-breaks-silence-four-decades-tragedy.html