The mystery of the Ghost Train fire, when 6 boys and a father burned alive in a maze, and a clue ignored by the police could solve the case

On a typically warm June evening, dozens of thrill-seekers rushed to ride Luna Park’s main attraction, the infamous Ghost Train.

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But as the carts full of excited youth and families entered the dark, labyrinthine tunnel, plumes of smoke began to rise.

Towering flames instantly engulfed the ride as screaming riders desperately tried to escape.

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Six boys and a man were trapped inside the tunnel, surrounded by a wall of flames and thick clouds of smoke as the fire spread furiously.

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The bodies of young brothers Craig and Damien Godson, their father John and four school friends were found among the charred rubble in a park in Sydney, Australia.

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It was the beginning of more than four decades of pain for their loved ones, who still do not know what caused the June 9, 1979, disaster.

The investigation, as discussed below in the Australian documentary, was rife with failures..

Infamous self-made organized crime boss Abe Shafran the nickname Mr. Sin has long been associated with the disaster.

It is alleged that the gangster was behind the park arson plot because he had his eye on a prime plot of land.

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Experts believe detectives could have uncovered the cause of the fire if they had carried out a thorough investigation in time.

This is the full story.

For 45 years, the devastating Ghost Train fire at Australia’s Luna Park was shrouded in mystery.

Conspiracy theories about arson and cover-ups followed, adding to the anguish of the victims’ families, who are still waiting for answers.

Police have been accused of failing to properly investigate the cause of a fire at a horror theme park.

Key evidence that could have solved the case was not examined and witness statements were never taken.

Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Newcastle, Australia, Dr Xanthe Mallett told The Sun there were “serious questions” about the original investigation.

The theme park’s prime location on Sydney’s seaside has attracted the attention of shady characters like Mr Sin.

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On the fateful night of June 9, 1979, the smell of smoke appeared. from the trip, but was initially rejected due to the consequences as there was no usual chaperone available.

Thick black smoke began billowing from the entrance around 10:15 p.m., prompting an immediate evacuation as high-pitched screams echoed through the park.

Terrified passengers were frantically pulled from the carriages even before their cars entered the dark tunnel, while others were pulled out as soon as they emerged.

Panicked riders in the black maze frantically toppled partitions as the fire that started deep inside the ride quickly became a roaring inferno.

Exploding into a huge fireball, the out-of-control fire engulfed the entire train and eclipsed the frightened spectators, who hoped that everyone had miraculously escaped.

Sadly, the bodies of six boys and one man were found inside the burnt out wreck of the ride, pictured below.

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The victims included John Godson and his two children, six-year-old Damien and four-year-old Craig, who were holidaying in the area.

They were excited to visit Luna Park for what was expected to be a fun family day out.

Jenny Godson, John’s wife and baby boy’s mum, took a photo of her beloved sons with the actors in the park (see below), not realizing it would be the last photo ever taken of them.

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Since they had four tickets left for the trip, they designated them for the doomed ghost train.

Jenny, pictured below, made a last-minute decision to buy ice cream instead of joining her family on the trip.

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But when she went to meet her beloved husband and son, she was shocked when she encountered a towering inferno instead.

Four schoolchildren, Jonathan Billings, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson and Seamus Rahilly – pictured below in order – were also unable to escape the wall of flames.

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Friend Jason Holman was in the car behind them and was pulled out moments before he entered the tunnel.

He fell into despair when their cart arrived on the other side empty.

Students aged 12 to 13 and the Godson family climbed out of their carriages in an attempt to escape.

But the tunnel’s intricate, labyrinth-like structure, combined with thick smoke and flames, would make it incredibly difficult for them to find their way out.

The rescuers, pictured below, initially thought everyone had been rescued from the devastating fire.

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But when the fire was contained, seven bodies were found inside.

Here the number marks the place of the tragic discovery of one of the bodies.

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Brothers Craig and Damien (pictured below) were among those found dead.

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The next day police attributed the fire to an electrical fault, but a coronial inquest later that year was unable to determine the cause.

For the next 45 years, the lack of clarity about what caused the fire has tormented the families of victims and survivors.

Their suffering is compounded by allegations that the deadly fire may have been set deliberately.

Theories such as faulty wiring and a discarded cigarette have also been floated.

Years later, the Australian MP is still fighting for justice for the victims and being held accountable.

An investigation following the crash also found that Luna Park management was told the ride posed a danger but took no action.

In 1977, the fire brigade warned them about installing a sprinkler system inside the train, noting the danger of the train’s wooden tunnel.

The fire inspector’s report states: “It (the tunnel) was a maze. It was a wooden house, all painted black… In fact, even with the lights on, I bumped into the partitions and the wall.

“The ceiling was wooden, I would have gotten lost even with the lights on.

“The only way to keep going is to follow the train tracks.”

The ceiling was wooden, I would have gotten lost even with the lights on.

Investigators

By 1979, park managers had failed to implement fire protection measures and were given a 12-month deadline just four weeks before the tragedy.

Coroner Kevin Sidney Anderson said that year that Luna Park had failed in its duty of care to customers.

However, he said their violations were not serious enough to “support a charge of criminal negligence.”

One of the most memorable theories about how the fire started is that it was started by Sydney gangster Abe Saffron.

It is alleged that the notorious crime boss, nicknamed “Mr Sin”, had his eye on the amusement park land as it was one of the most prestigious sites on Sydney Harbour.

It is alleged that Shafran got away with directing the fire because he was in cahoots with corrupt police officers.

Two former senior police officers, Steve Bullock and Paul Egg, testified on ABC camera that they believed Saffron ordered the crime.

They claim it was quickly covered up by disgraceful police and government officials.

Witnesses described the smell of kerosene at the scene and spoke of a group of men talking about setting a car on fire.

At the time, police were not investigating whether the fire was deliberate.

After the fire, Luna Park paid tribute to the victims in a note that can be seen below.

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And children at the boys’ school laid flowers at the funeral at St Mary’s Cathedral on June 15, 1979..

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45 years later, why do families still have no answers?

Dr Mallett believes arson is one of the most likely causes of the fire, and police mistakes at the time marked the beginning of a 45-year mystery.

She said: “Evidence was not collected.

“Witnesses said they smelled kerosene and others heard men acting suspiciously say, ‘I spilled the kerosene and lit it with a match.’

“Had these allegations been taken into account, the cause of the fire could have been confirmed and police would have investigated the incident as a crime.”

Dr Mallett said detectives were “very quick” to link the fire to faulty electrical wiring – a move that raised eyebrows and continues to raise eyebrows.

Given the presence of a number of witnesses, many of whom are unrelated to each other, the telling of similar stories certainly raises serious questions about the original investigation.

She added: “As a result the fire was not investigated as arson.

“Many of the witnesses who came forward were not contacted to give evidence.

“Others claim they were pressured to change their statements and remove any reference to a group of men they saw acting suspiciously.

“Given the presence of a number of witnesses, many of whom have no connection to each other, the telling of similar stories certainly raises serious questions about the original investigation.

“From eyewitness accounts that describe the same group of men – how they were dressed, what they heard them say, down to details such as a tattoo on one of their ears described as a ‘blue star’ – and the smell of kerosene inevitably suggests that the cause of the fire was indeed potential arson.”

In 2007, Saffron’s niece Anne Buckingham told the Sydney Morning Herald that her uncle ordered the house to be torched because “he loved collecting things”.

She added: “I don’t think people should have been killed.”

Ann later retracted her testimony and denied blaming her uncle for the fire.

Families of deceased loved ones never talk about closure, but learning the truth about their loved one’s death can help them come to some resolution and move forward.

But Dr Mallett believes it is not too late to solve the case as there is still time to gather important evidence.

She said: “Many of the original witnesses to the fire are still alive and for those who have subsequently died, their statements still exist.

“These witnesses gave very clear – and corroborating – accounts of a group of men/teenagers who were acting suspiciously around the time the fire broke out.

“These men/teenagers were never tracked down. There’s still time.

“A $1 million reward has been offered and more witnesses may come forward.

“A second investigation, if carried out, could provide more information that could assist police.

“And since all attention will be focused on the problems of the initial investigation, they will be highly motivated to do everything by the book.”

Here, then Public Emergency Services Minister David Elliott shares more details about the $1 million reward in 2021.

At the center of the disaster remain the families of the victims, who have waited decades for closure.

Dr Mallett added: “I have worked with victims’ families for many years and they always want to know the answers to the same questions – what happened, why and who is responsible.”

“Families of deceased loved ones never talk about closure, but learning the truth about their loved one’s death can help them come to some resolution and move forward.”