Ghost Train (Luna Park Sydney)

The Ghost Train was a ghost train ride at Sydney's Luna Park that was destroyed in a 1979 fire. Seven people were killed in the incident, while one high school student survived.

Designed and constructed in 1931 at Luna Park Glenelg, the ride was transported to Milson's Point along with all the other rides and reassembled prior to the park's first opening.

1979 fire

The Ghost Train was the scene of what has been called Luna Park's greatest disaster.Marshall (2005). Pg 110] On the night of 9 June 1979, a fire broke out inside the ride at approximately 10:15pm AEST. Due to a combination of low water pressure, understaffing within the park, and inadequate coverage of the Ghost Train by the park's fire hose system, the fire was able to completely consume the ride.McClymont, 2007a, p 13]

The fire was extinguished before it could spread to the adjacent River Caves and Big Dipper. Inspection of the rubble after the event revealed the bodies of seven people - John Godson and his two children, Damien and Craig, along with four Waverley College students; Jonathon Billings, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson, and Seamus Rahilly. A fifth Waverley College student, Jason Holman, was riding in a third car, and was pulled out by staff when the fire started. The park was shut down immediately after the incident.

A coronial inquiry into the incident did not determine the cause of the fire, although it was demonstrated that the ride's permanent wiring and attractions were not the source of ignition. Coroner Kevin Anderson found that Luna Park's management had failed to develop an adequate fire suppression program, despite recommendations by North Sydney Council and the Fire Department eighteen months earlier. Anderson's report stated that while the park's owners and management had failed in their duty of care towards patrons, the failure was not "that high degree of negligence necessary to support a charge of criminal negligence". [Marshall (2005). Pgs 110-111] The NSW Government called for new tenders to operate the park on 31 July 1979.Marshall (2005). Pg. 111]

In 1987, a Government inquiry into corruption by the National Crime Authority reopened the investigation of the Ghost Train incident.Read, 1996. Scene occurring 42:00 to 43:30] No new evidence was presented, but it was found that the police investigation into the incident had been inadequate, and the coronial inquiry was ineffective.

Despite claims ranging from faulty wiring to sabotage in an attempt to have the park closed down and demolished, the cause of the fire has never been established.

Links to Abe Saffron

In May 2007, Anne Buckingham, a niece of Sydney underworld figure Abe Saffron, claimed in an interview with "The Sydney Morning Herald" that her uncle was responsible for the fire. Saffron had previously been associated with seven other arson attacks in the two years following the Ghost Train fire, although he had repeatedly denied involvement with the Ghost Train fire. Buckingham claimed the attack was part of a plan for Saffron to gain control of Luna Park's lease, although she stated the belief that the seven deaths were not intended.

Former Park Artist Martin Sharp claimed that Saffron had approached Luna Park's owner, Ted Hopkins, at a point several years before the fire, offering to buy the park. In 1985, it was claimed by NSW MP Michael John Hatton that Saffron had beneficial ownership of the park, resulting in an inquiry, which concluded that although people related to Saffron were involved in supplying pinball and arcade games to Luna Park, Abe Saffron himself was not linked to the ownership of the park.

Buckingham later retracted her comments and demanded the story not be published, although the Herald claims her original statements were recorded on tape during a face-to-face interview.McClymont, 2007b, pgs 1 & 13] The NSW Attorney General has stated the coronial inquiry may be reopened, but would first require the submission of new evidence to the police. [Australian Associated Press, 2007]

Memorial

A memorial was dedicated in 1995 to the seven victims of the 1979 fire, with a tree planted next to an antique bench decorated with the names of the victims.Nicholls, 2003] During the 2003 redevelopment, the tree was removed and the bench 'lost'. Park director Warwick Doughty claimed that the memorial and events had little relevance, although North Sydney mayor Genia McCaffery, among others, disagreed and campaigned for the memorial's reinstatement. In 2004, a plaque listing the names of the victims was placed on an external wall of the Big Top, which was constructed on the site of the Ghost Train. [Marshall (2005). Pg. 152] Nicholls, 2004] The plaque was to be the centrepiece of a mural painted by former Park Artist Martin Sharp, which as of August 2008 is yet to be painted. At least one person present at the unveiling of the plaque was unimpressed with the new memorial.

A memorial park was opened at Lavender Bay by North Sydney Council on 25 August 2007. The "Art Barton" Park, named after former Park Artist Arthur Barton, includes a bronze sculpture designed by Michael Leunig dedicated to the victims.cite news |first=Andre |last=Khoury |title=Memorial honours for victims |url=http://www.mosmandaily.com.au/article/2007/08/29/1296_news.html |work=The Mosman Daily |publisher=Cumberland Newspapers |date=2007-08-29 |accessdate=2007-09-09 ]

ee also

*List of disasters in Australia by death toll

References

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* - Notes: 2007a. Online version differes from print article; different title ("Haunting questions linger") and first three paragraphs missing.
* - Note: 2007b.
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