Canyon Diablo Train Robbery Project Explained

Source: https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/histphotos/id/5865/rec/1

So, what's the deal here? What's going on with the 1889 Canyon Diablo Train Robbery? Well, we've finally decided to write a book about it. We've been threatening to do so for at least 20 years, maybe 30, we can't remember.

For years we struggled with how to retell the story and whether to make it a fictional rendition or to stick with the facts.

Finally, after a few decades of deliberation, we've decided to simply be an Editor. We will assemble various account of the fabled incident and describe how each account may or may not stray from the facts. Of course, the so-called "facts" are relatively few and far between. There are so many mythical accounts of the saga it's difficult to separate fact from fiction.

That's why it makes a whole lot more sense to simply attempt to be an impartial referee rather than an author trying to reinvent the wheel.

Heck, there is so much stuff relating to this story, it will take a good size book just to corral it all between two covers!

It's really fun to revisit a legend that I first learned about in the mid-80's. Much of my own memory fogged facts from yesterday. SO I am relearning the story anew. The whole project will take an long and undetermined amount of time. However, since it's one of my all-time favorite stories and one that I never tire of reading, reciting and reflecting, it's all an immense amount of fun.

The group of four men is the posse that captured the robbers in Wahweap Canyon (discussed earlier today). My Hero Buckey O'Neill is second from right in the group.

The solitary individual is the incredibly famous Will C. Barnes. Barnes figures prominently in the Canyon Diablo Train Robbery Story but that incident was just a mere a fly speck in his amazing overall life story.

Studying Buckey's Life Story and the robbery saga has brought all these guys to back to life in my mind's eye and spirit.

Source: https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/histphotos/id/5826/rec/1