The accident resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including former Wisconsin congressman Charles H. Larrabee and Maria Guirado, the wife of the former California Governor John G. Downey.
On January 20, 1883, a 4-8-0 steam locomotive had just climbed a steep peak in Tehachapi, California.
However, when the train was left unattended, it became a runaway and derailed along the same track that it had previously climbed.
[1] Investigation into the incident revealed that two strangers had boarded the train.
It is believed that these two men were robbers that had lost control of the train and would also die in the disaster.