Railway accident at Villepreux-Les Clayes
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The railway accident at Villepreux-Les Clayes was a rear-end collision at the station of the same name in June 1910. 20 people died.
Starting position
The station Villepreux-Les Clayes is located on the railway line Saint-Cyr-Surdon in the municipality of Les Clayes-sous-Bois . The line was operated by the État at that time and was secured with a track block.
The No. 46 passenger train from Paris had broken down on the route in a curve in front of the Villepreux-Les Clayes station due to machine damage . A replacement locomotive was requested but was not immediately available. In the schedule followed fast train no. 477 of Paris.
the accident
On the one hand, the engine driver of the express train drove too fast: 80 km / h was mandatory, he drove 100 km / h. After the passenger train had stood still for about three quarters of an hour, the express train approached. The engine driver's engine driver now also overlooked the signal that instructed him to “stop” and only recognized the passenger train in front of him due to the curve 100 meters before his train collided with it. Four cars of the express train - including its dining car - were smashed, a brake car and three other cars of the passenger train were pushed into each other by the hitting express locomotive. This fell over and embers emitted ignited the heap of rubble.
consequences
20 people died, 19 were also seriously and numerous others were slightly injured. The incoming fire brigade could not extinguish due to lack of water. The engine driver was sentenced to two years in prison in a criminal trial.
literature
- Bernhard Püschel: Historical railway disasters. A chronicle of accidents from 1840 to 1926 . Freiburg 1977. ISBN 3-88255-838-5 . With photos from the scene of the accident, p. 89.
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