‘Only a Maniac’: The Derailment of the Union Pacific’s Portland Rose in 1934 with Rick Ewig – WSA Speaker Series Talk

Wyoming State Archives hosts historian Rick Ewig presenting the talk “‘Only a Maniac’: The Derailment of the Union Pacific’s Portland Rose in 1934.” This free public event is part of the Archives’ year-long Thursday evening speaker series.

Shortly before midnight on March 23, 1934, the Union Pacific’s Portland Rose derailed east of Rawlins, Wyoming. Fortunately, no one was badly injured during the wreck, but the initial investigation by Union Pacific employees and law enforcement officials uncovered suspected “sabotage.” Believing robbery to be the motivation for the accident, UP special agents, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, and the warden of the Wyoming State Penitentiary began an intensive search which quickly ended in the arrest of a Rawlins man tied to violent crimes in other states.

Those unable to attend this event in person may also participate in the live stream on the Archive’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WyomingStateArchives). A recording will be available on the WSA YouTube channel the week following the talk.

The WSA speaker series hosts talks at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Upcoming topics include The Early Black Coal Camps Communities of Southern Wyoming with Brigada Blasi on May 12th and Eagles of Heart Mountain with Brad Pearson on June 9th, with others scheduled throughout the year.

For MORE, contact Sara Davis, State Archivist, at 307-777-8691 or at sara.davis@wyo.gov.