Melun railway accident

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The railway accident in Melun was the flank journey of an express train into a mail train on November 4, 1913 at Melun station . At least 40 people died.

Starting position

The main line of the PLM from Marseille to Paris allowed a top speed of up to 120 km / h. Seen from the direction of Paris , a route branched off from the main line in the area of ​​Melun station . This junction was secured for trains approaching from Marseille by three successive signals that stood 1150, 970 and 150 meters in front of the junction. The mail train coming from Paris drove the branch. The express train was traveling in the opposite direction and was 30 minutes ahead of schedule .

the accident

The locomotive driver of the express train ignored the first two of the three signals showing "Halt" and covering the junction. The last signal was far too close to the junction for the train to have stopped before it passed. When the express train reached the junction, the mail train was passing it. The express train cut through the mail train. Nine of the wagons on the mail train and three on the express train were smashed. The collision also destroyed a number of gas containers for the train's lights . The gas exploded , igniting the debris.

consequences

40 people died at the scene of the accident - including 21 post office employees. In addition, 50 people were injured, while the staff on the locomotive was uninjured the fast train.

The accident investigation showed that the signaling safety of the junction was inadequate for the speeds driven here. In addition, the demand was made to convert the lighting of passenger cars to electric light .

literature

  • Ludwig Stockert : Railway accidents (new episode) - Another contribution to railway operations theory . Berlin 1920, no.103.

Remarks

  1. ↑ Another railway accident in which the lighting gas ignited after a collision and also contributed significantly to the number of victims and accident damage was the railway accident in Mühlheim am Main in 1900.

Coordinates: 48 ° 31 ′ 33.5 "  N , 2 ° 39 ′ 29.8"  E