Sunday Apr 06, 2025

The Ghost Train Fire at Luna Park in Sydney, Australia - Part 2

Episode 55

This week we continue our coverage of the Ghost Train fire that occurred in July of 1979 at Luna Park in Sydney, Australia. The fire ultimately claimed 7 lives and investigators initially told the public it was an accidental electrical fire. However, an electrical engineer showed up at the inquest explaining that there was no way this fire was an electrical fire. Many people believe it was intentional arson arranged by an organized crime boss that wanted the valuable real estate upon which Luna Park sat. Thus begins our trek through a twisted web of crooked cops, corrupt politicians, and of course, greedy criminals with a long history of using arson to get their way. Is it possible that the families of the Luna Park victims have been lied to for over 40 years and that this fire was intentional arson all to gain some real estate advantages? We'll tell you what journalists have uncovered. Now you tell us if you think the Luna Park fire was arson or a tragic accident.

There is a very powerful documentary titled Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire listed in the source list below that we recommend anyone wanting additional information on this case watch for a more clear picture of the allegations contained in this episode. At the time of this recording, it is available on Netflix.

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended.

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated

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Source List (for a complete list of sources, please also see Episode 54 show notes, additional sources used for this episode are listed below):

Mavety, John (Director), (2021). Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire [Streaming]. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/the-luna-park-ghost-train-incident-1979

https://www.the-sun.com/news/12953789/ghost-train-blaze-burned-alive-clue-crack-case/

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132382283

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rooklyn-israel-jack-30530

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-30/police-claims-abe-saffron-behind-luna-park-fire/12321044

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2021P2/chapter-4-special-detailed-requirements-based-on-occupancy-and-use#IBC2021P2_Ch04_Sec411

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9416263/Crime-boss-nicknamed-Mr-Sin-Luna-Park-Ghost-Train-fire-killed-six-kids-cops-say.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Saffron

https://theconversation.com/how-ghost-train-fire-exposed-remarkable-police-corruption-yet-also-failed-abcs-high-journalistic-standards-167042

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-30/police-claims-abe-saffron-behind-luna-park-fire/12321044