In 1993, the Amtrak Railroad experienced the deadliest train crash in United States history.

47 passengers and crew were killed.

103 more were injured.

The cause of the accident was unclear.

The clues to this mystery were etched and twisted steel,

and buried in the mud of an Alabama bio, waiting for investigators to find them.

Amtrak Sunset Limited is the country's only remaining transcontinental train.

The Sunset Limited has an interesting history, kind of dates back to the romantic time of train travel when it was very elegant and poshed to travel by train.

On September 20, 1993, Trudey Justin and her husband, Larry, boarded the Sunset Limited in Deming, New Mexico, headed for Florida.

And I could sit there and look and talk to other people, but the best part is go into the dining car.

We went the dining car three times a day, and you just dropped back there and they were really nice to you.

After dinner, Trudey and Larry returned to their seats to rest.

The train stopped briefly in New Orleans to fix a broken air conditioner.

By 2.30 a.m., it was running about 33 minutes behind schedule.

It stopped in Mobile, Alabama, where the engineer waited until a freight train cleared the bridge up ahead.

Then, the Sunset Limited started on the last leg of its trip, 750 miles to Miami.

The train throttled up to a cruising speed of 72 miles an hour, but this ability was hindered by fog.

Shortly before 3 a.m., the Sunset Limited approached the Bayou Cannot Bridge.

In a matter of seconds, the train's three engines and next four cars plummeted into the water.

The engine's fuel tanks ruptured, igniting the diesel fuel.

Then the people started yelling, we got to get out of here because this is going to explode.

The Tideboat Movella was the first to report the accident.

...