Regarding the Santa Fe runaway in Cajon Pass, friends in the industry have long suspected a cover - up by Santa Fe officials. Word was at the time, that a senior car inspector and his boss at Barstow Yard both " retired " within days of the wreck. Santa Fe's official explanation was that " someone " kicked an angle cock closed, while climbing on or off the train while it was stopped at Summit waiting for other traffic to clear, thus leaving 2/3rd's of the train without operable brakes. This explains the Checkpoint Charlie that Santa Fe installed after the wreck ( see photo pg. 8 -- Oct. 2016 issue of Railfan & Railroad magazine ), and continues to staff with rent - a - cops to this day.