The First Train Robbery

…took place in Seymour, Indiana just after the Civil War.

The evening of October 6, 1866. Three men–Simeon Reno, John Reno and Frank Sparks (latter two in photo)–board an Ohio & Mississippi train headed east out of Seymour, Indiana. About three miles out of town, they stop the train and enter the express car. The safe yields about $15,000. It is the first peace-time train holdup in U.S. history. The culprits are eventually arrested (as are other members of the Reno family), but a lack of witnesses causes charges to be dropped. The Reno Gang will pull other train robberies in the next two years.