On the afternoon of October 22, 1895, the bustling city of Paris witnessed an extraordinary event that would be etched in history as the Montparnasse Train Crash. The Granville to Paris Express, operated by Chemins de fer de l’Ouest, was running late as it approached its terminus at Gare Montparnasse. In a desperate attempt to make up for lost time, the train entered the station at an alarming speed of 40–60 km/h (25–37 mph). The Westinghouse air brake failed to engage, and the train’s momentum was too great for the locomotive brakes to handle alone.
The train, consisting of steam locomotive No. 721 hauling three luggage vans, a post van, and six passenger coaches, could not be stopped by the buffer stop at the end of the track. It continued across the station concourse, broke through a 60-centimeter-thick wall, and plummeted onto the Place de Rennes below, where it stood on its nose. This dramatic scene has been immortalized in a famous photograph that shows the locomotive precariously dangling over the street.
The crash resulted in the tragic death of Marie-Augustine Aguilard, who was killed by falling masonry. She had been standing in for her husband, a newspaper vendor, while he went to collect the evening papers. Additionally, six individuals, including two passengers, a fireman, two guards, and a passerby, sustained injuries.
The aftermath of the crash saw the locomotive driver sentenced to two months in prison and fined 50 francs for approaching the station too fast. One of the guards was also fined 25 francs for being preoccupied with paperwork and failing to apply the handbrake.
The passenger carriages were undamaged and were removed with ease. However, it took 48 hours before the legal process and investigation allowed the railway to start removing the locomotive and tender. An initial attempt to move the locomotive with 14 horses failed, and it ultimately required a 250-tonne winch and the efforts of 10 men to lower the locomotive to the ground and lift the tender back into the station.
The Montparnasse Train Crash is a stark reminder of the importance of safety in the operation of trains and the potential consequences of human error. It also highlights the resilience and ingenuity of those who responded to the crisis, from the legal and investigative processes to the engineering feats required to remove the wreckage.
Today, the site of the crash is a busy Parisian locale, and the memory of the event lives on in photographs and historical accounts. The crash serves as a lesson in the annals of railway history, a cautionary tale of the balance between the efficiency of transportation and the paramount importance of safety measures. As we reflect on this incident from over a century ago, we are reminded of the progress that has been made in transportation safety and the ongoing commitment required to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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