Changsha Railway Accident
The Changsha railway accident was the head-on collision of two trains in Changsha , Republic of China , on January 7, 1918 or shortly before. 300 people died.
Starting position
China was in a civil war . The Northern Civil War faction had previously held Changsha. The southern civil war faction had now gained the upper hand here, the troops of the northern civil war faction tried to flee.
The railway line leading north was single-track . In Changsha station there was a train ready to depart, just waiting for a train expected from the opposite direction to enter the station and thus clear the route.
the accident
The soldiers of the Northern Army stormed the train and asked the dispatcher to leave immediately to the north. When he pointed out that there was still a train on the route in the direction of the station, they nonetheless forced - at gunpoint against the locomotive driver - the exit of the train against the exit signal showing "stop" . Shortly afterwards there was a head-on collision with the oncoming train.
consequences
300 people died and many more were injured. Such unqualified military interventions in railway operations were not uncommon in China, but they also led to major railway accidents elsewhere .
Web links
- NN: Railway disaster near Changsha . In: The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser v. January 11, 1918, p. 7.
Remarks
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↑ See: NN: Railway disaster , and
* Railway accident in Sarry , 1914
* Railway accident in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne , 1917
* Railway accident in Ciurea , 1917
* Railway accident in Tengchatang , 1936
* Railway accident in Trebbin , 1962
* Railway accident in Forst Zinna , 1988