Nevada Rock Art Geocaching Historical Markers

Historical Marker #128

Located at the railroad crossing near Verdi Inn at Verdi, Nevada.

The Great Train Robbery

The West's first train robbery occurred near this site on the night of November 4, 1870. Five men, led by a stage robber, Sunday School superintendent John Chapman, boarded the Central Pacific Overland Express at Verdi, Nevada. Two took over the engine, one the express car, and two the rear platform. One-half mile east, the engine and express car were halted and cut free, then proceeded about five miles, where they were stopped by a barricade. Here the robbers forced the messenger to open up. Seizing $41,600 in gold coin, they rode off. The uncoupled cars coasted downgrade and met the engine. The train proceeded to Reno. After a two-state chase, all were caught, tried and convicted. About 90 per cent of the gold was recovered.

Notes on this marker:

This was where we learned that the yellow book has bad directions. We evenutally found it.

And the marker is/was crooked. It may have been fixed.

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