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N0KFQ > TODAY 30.08.16 16:02l 47 Lines 2044 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 6002_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Aug 30
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<F1OYP<ON0AR<DB0RES<PI8CDR<GB7YEW<N9PMO<N0KFQ
Sent: 160830/1348Z 6002@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ6.0.12
1974
Train crashes into station in Yugoslavia
A train entering a Zagreb, Yugoslavia, station derails, killing
153 people, on this day in 1974. It was the worst rail accident
in the country's history to that date and remains one of the
worst in Europe's history.
The express train from Belgrade to Dortmund was filled mostly
with workers returning to their jobs in West Germany after taking
summer vacations when it pulled away with 400 passengers that
evening. Two engineers were in charge of the electric locomotive
leading the passenger cars. As the train approached the Zagreb
station, it had to negotiate a curve and should have slowed to 30
miles per hour. However, the engineers not only failed to slow
the train, but went through a red signal at about 60 mph. There
was some dispute as to whether the engineers were drunk or had
just fallen asleep; it is known for certain that they had already
worked 300 hours each that month and may have been suffering from
fatigue.
The train, traveling far too fast, crashed into the platform at
the Zagreb station and derailed. The scene was horrific, a mess
of bodies and crushed metal. Even worse, the train brought down
power lines, which then electrocuted some of the passengers. Many
of the survivors were trapped and it took hours before they were
rescued. The identification of bodies was very difficult and
although authorities attempted to use dental records to assist in
the effort, they proved useful in only 5 percent of the
identifications. The best estimate is that 153 people died in the
crash, but some reports indicate up to 175 deaths may have
resulted. President Marshal Tito declared a national day of
mourning in response to the disaster.
During the subsequent investigation, it was shown that the
train's brakes were in full working order; the disaster was
blamed solely on the engineers. They received prison terms of 15
and eight years.
73 - K.O., n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
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