America’s 1st Train Robbery 🚂💰

The Reno Brothers pulled off the first moving train robbery in U.S. history in Jackson County, Indiana, on 6th October, 1866.

Overpowering the guard, the gang made off with a significant haul of gold, cash, and canvas bags (though, while they tried to steal a hefty safe, they couldn’t open it and simply pushed it off the train). Their daring heist revolutionised the way criminals targeted trains forever.

Arion, Rebecca and Olly discover how the crew evolved their activities from "bounty jumping" during the Civil War; marvel at the local newspapers’ repeated requests for public lynchings; and reveal how their luck ran out when notorious private security force The Pinkerton Detective Agency got on their case…

Further Reading:

• ‘Of Rails and Robbers’ (Library of Congress): https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/october-06/

• ’Reno Gang & the 1st Big Train Robbery’ (Legends of America, 2021): https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-renogang/

• ‘The Reno Gang - The story of the first train robbery in the U.S.’ (Jackson County Visitor Center, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKo1eblt2Xk

This episode first aired in 2024

Thanks so much for supporting the show! We massively appreciate it.

The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill. Edit producer: 

Ollie Peart

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders.

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices