The Luna Park Ghost Train Tragedy: A True Story

In Sydney, Australia, there’s a famous amusement park called Luna Park, known for its giant smiling face entrance. While it’s a place of fun today, it holds a sad story from its past.

A Family Day Out

On June 9th, 1979, the Godson family – Jenny, James, and their two sons – went on a day trip to Sydney. They had a great time visiting the zoo and then took a ferry ride to Luna Park. While there, they took some pictures, including one with a street performer wearing an unusual costume with horns. This would turn out to be the last photo taken of young Damien Godson.

The Ghost Train Ride

As the day was ending, the family found they had some extra ride tickets. James and the boys decided to use them on the Ghost Train ride, while Jenny chose to get some ice cream instead. No one knew this simple choice would change their lives forever.

The Fire

When Jenny returned to the Ghost Train, she saw something terrible – the ride was on fire. Firefighters came quickly and even had to pump water from Sydney Harbor to fight the flames, but it was too late. Seven people died in the fire, including James and his two sons.

Remembering Those Lost

Today, there’s a special plaque and statue at Luna Park to remember the people who died that day. The park still operates, but it never forgot this sad event.

The Investigation

People wanted to know how the fire started. While some thought it might have been faulty wiring, investigators proved this wasn’t true. The park’s owner at the time, Abe Saffron, got in trouble – not for starting the fire, but for not following safety rules that might have prevented it.

Questions Remain

Even today, people still wonder exactly what happened that night. Some say it was an accident, while others think it might have been done on purpose. The tragedy changed how Australian amusement parks think about safety, making sure nothing like this could happen again.

An Important Reminder

The Luna Park fire reminds us why safety rules at amusement parks are so important. While it’s a sad story, it helped make parks safer for everyone who visits them today.

Note: Some people claim to hear strange sounds near the park at night, but these are just stories that grew up around this tragic event. The real story is about remembering those who were lost and learning from what happened to make parks safer for everyone.

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SOURCE: “Damien and the Horned Man” by Jacqueline Vesey-Wells for Medium.com: https://tinyurl.com/1cexmhwy