Street Now Footnote to a Train Robbery

Two armed outlaws in masks and long dark dusters robbed the northbound Southern Pacific No. 20 train at the Roscoe flag stop at what is now San Fernando Road and Sunland Boulevard in Sun Valley. Instead of slowing for one of the robbers, who waved a torch, the engineer sped up because he saw a rifle in the man’s other hand. But the well-organized bandits had already thrown the spur switch, pitching the engine and two freight cars filled with oranges from the tracks. The train’s fireman and a 19-year-old stowaway were killed. The robbers were later captured and sent to prison, and the community of Roscoe was reduced to a street name.