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The Region - News from Aug. 30, 1985

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An electrical short sparked a fire in one of two Amtrak engines, forcing the evacuation of up to 400 passengers from “The Limited Sunset” train en route from Los Angeles to New Orleans. No injuries were reported in the fire, which stopped the eastbound train in a desert area about 80 miles east of Los Angeles, Amtrak and Riverside County fire officials said. Amtrak spokesman Clifford Black said the train resumed travel after a five-hour delay. He said about 200 passengers were evacuated during the fire, but a county fire dispatcher said about 400 travelers were ordered off the train. Eighteen firefighters took 45 minutes to extinguish the blaze, which county fire officials said was started by a short in an engine generating electrical power for the train’s 12 cars.

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