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N0KFQ > TODAY 30.08.10 22:33l 47 Lines 2067 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Today in History - Aug 30
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Sent: 100830/2054Z @:N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA #:15392 [Branson] FBB7.00i $:15392_N
From: N0KFQ@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
To : TODAY@WW
Aug 30, 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.
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
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