The Luna Park Ghost Train Fire
Fairfax Media Archives/Getty ImagesThe aftermath of the fire at Luna Park. More than 30 people had been on the Ghost Train at the time — and seven died.
The fire at Luna Park in Sydney, Australia, still haunts the minds of generations of Australians. The park’s entrance was a wide-mouthed, toothy, grinning clown that attendees had to pass through before being stunned by the dazzling lights and noise of the park.
But while some people may have fond memories of the park, most remember it for the horrifying fire in June of 1979 that killed seven people on the Ghost Train ride — six of whom were children.
On the night of June 9, 1979, smoke billowed out of the ride while about 35 people were on it. But due to a host of issues, the ride’s sprinkler system failed to turn on. Park staff frantically tried to pull riders out of their cars as they exited the track.
Tragically, seven riders — John Godson and his two children, Damien and Craig, and four high school students; Jonathan Billings, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson, and Seamus Rahilly — burned alive inside. Some witnesses claimed they had exited their cars in an unsuccessful attempt to exit the ride on foot.
Staff claimed that had they stayed seated, the cars would have automatically taken them out of the ride.
Fairfax Media Archive/Getty ImagesAmong the dead was a man named John Godson and his two sons, Damien and Craig.
The fire was originally thought to be caused by an electrical fault, but as 9News later reported, arson may have been at play — and then covered up.
And just last year, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, put out a $1 million reward for anyone who could provide information regarding the Ghost Train fire.
“I am appealing to those who may know something but have not previously been inclined to assist,” he said. “You now have a million reasons to come forward.”
This coincided with an ABC investigative series, “EXPOSED: The Ghost Train Fire,” which explored the experiences of people who were at Luna Park that day in June, many of whom claim to have heard people conspiring to commit arson.
One interviewee, Les Dowd, described several men he saw in the park that day, all standing together wearing denim jackets: “I heard one of them say, ‘I spread the kerosene out, and I lit it with a match.’ Another one said, ‘You’re a fool for doing it.’ They started running towards the exit.”
Others told ABC similar stories, and many of them said they felt pressured or bullied by police to stick to a certain story — one that drastically differed from their version of the truth.
They stayed silent for over 30 years out of fear, Tina Shakeshaft said, “that someone’s going to catch up with me.”
As for now, however, the case remains closed.
