What sort of person undertakes to rob a multi-ton train surging down a set of rails at high speed? For the Old West’s most famous outlaws, including Jesse James, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the Dalton Gang, and Black Jack Ketchum, it was as much about the thrill of the crime as the riches to be won, thumbing their noses at the authorities, and getting away with their crimes more often than not. These men, and at least one woman, were dare devils, rule breakers, adventurers, and rebels. In addition to their train robberies, they led colorful, dramatic, and dangerous lives.

The Old West's Infamous Train Robbers and Their Historic Heists profiles sixteen noted train robbers (or train robbing gangs) along with the details of each their forty-seven hold-ups. The mechanics of each of their train robberies—planning, execution, and escape—are dissected and discussed. Pertinent background information relating to each outlaw/gang is included as well as what became of them following their train-robbery days.

W. C. Jameson is the author of more than 100 books and 1,500 articles. He has won numerous writing awards including Indie Reader Book of the Year. Several of his books have been made into documentaries and as parts of past and ongoing television series on the History Channel, the American Heroes Channel, and others, and he was recently inducted into the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame. Jameson is also a singer/songwriter/performer and has recorded eight critically acclaimed CDs of original music. In 1999 he was named Songwriter of the Year by the Texas Folk Music Guild. He has contributed to the soundtracks for four feature films, two PBS documentaries, and one commercial short documentary. His music has been heard on NPR, and he wrote and performed in the musical, “Whatever Happened to the Outlaw, Jesse James?” Two songs written by Jameson have been included in America's Top 100 Western Songs list, and music videos featuring three of his songs have been produced.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chronology

1. The Reno Gang

Seymour, Indiana

Marshfield, Indiana

Shields, Indiana

2. The James Gang

Adair, Iowa

Gads Hill, Missouri

Muncie, Kansas

Glendale, Missouri

Winston, Missouri

Blue Cut, Missouri

3. Sam Bass

Big Springs, Nebraska

Allen, Texas

Hutchins, Texas

Eagle Ford, Texas

Mesquite, Texas

4. Rube Burrow

Bellevue, Texas

Gordon, Texas

McNeil, Texas

Benbrook, Texas

Genoa, Arkansas

Duck Hill, Mississippi

Buckatunna, Mississippi

Century, Florida

5. The Bill Whitley/Brack Cornett Gang

Flatonia, Texas

Harwood, Texas

6. Burt Alvord

Cochise Junction, Arizona

Fairbank, Arizona

7. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Malta, Montana

Wilcox, Wyoming

Wagner, Montana

8. Black Jack Ketchum

Lozier Station, Texas

Folsom, New Mexico

9. The Dalton Gang

Alila, California

Wharton, Indian Territory

Leliatta, Indian Territory

Red Rock, Indian Territory

Adair, Indian Territory

10. The Doolin Gang

Caney, Kansas

Ponca Station, Indian Territory

Cimarron, Kansas

Dover, Oklahoma

11. The Evans-Sontag Gang

Pixley, California

Goshen, California

Ceres, California

Kasota Junction, Minnesota

Collis, California

12. The Newton Gang

Cline, Texas

Bells, Texas

Bloomberg, Texas

Paxton, Illinois

St. Joseph, Missouri

Roundout, Illinois

Some Railroad Terminology

Acknowledgements

About the Author