The Evergreen

The Not-So-Great Oregon Train Robbery


Listen Later

In October 1923, three brothers held up a train headed south from Ashland. Instead of making off with the loot, however, they killed four people and led police on a worldwide manhunt. Newspapers called it “the crime of the century.” It came to be known as “The Last Great American Train Robbery.” But it was actually a total failure. So why do people still talk and write songs about it? What was so great about this heist?

 

For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage.

Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too.

You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.

 

Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps:

  • Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars

  • Politics Now

  • Think Out Loud

    And many more! Check out our full show list here.

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The EvergreenBy Oregon Public Broadcasting

    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9

    4.9

    64 ratings


    More shows like The Evergreen

    View all
    This American Life by This American Life

    This American Life

    91,056 Listeners

    Radiolab by WNYC Studios

    Radiolab

    43,947 Listeners

    Fresh Air by NPR

    Fresh Air

    38,494 Listeners

    Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

    Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

    38,668 Listeners

    On the Media by WNYC Studios

    On the Media

    9,182 Listeners

    Think Out Loud by Oregon Public Broadcasting

    Think Out Loud

    280 Listeners

    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,377 Listeners

    Code Switch by NPR

    Code Switch

    14,633 Listeners

    OPB Politics Now by Oregon Public Broadcasting

    OPB Politics Now

    224 Listeners

    1A by NPR

    1A

    4,673 Listeners

    It's Been a Minute by NPR

    It's Been a Minute

    9,008 Listeners

    Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

    Ologies with Alie Ward

    24,343 Listeners

    Throughline by NPR

    Throughline

    16,237 Listeners

    The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

    The Ezra Klein Show

    16,095 Listeners

    City Cast Portland by City Cast

    City Cast Portland

    207 Listeners