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In the '''Balvano train disaster''' of [[March 3]], [[1944]], 426 people illegally riding on a steam-hauled freight train died of [[carbon monoxide poisoning]] when the train stalled on a steep gradient in the Armi tunnel.<ref>http://www.trivia-library.com/a/railroad-disaster-on-the-balvano-limited-part-1.htm Railroad Disaster on the Balvano</ref> The accident occurred in southern [[Italy]], near [[Balvano]] ([[Basilicata]]). |
In the '''Balvano train disaster''' of [[March 3]], [[1944]], 426 people illegally riding on a steam-hauled freight train died of [[carbon monoxide poisoning]] when the train stalled on a steep gradient in the Armi tunnel.<ref>http://www.trivia-library.com/a/railroad-disaster-on-the-balvano-limited-part-1.htm Railroad Disaster on the Balvano</ref> The accident occurred in southern [[Italy]], near [[Balvano]] ([[Basilicata]]). |
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==Circumstances== |
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[[Naples]] suffered severe wartime shortages. encouraging an extensive [[black market]]. The railways also suffered shortages of high qwuality [[coal]]. The burning of low grade substitutes produced a heavy volume of odorless, poisonous carbon monoxide gas, a critical factor in the ensuing disaster. |
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Many city dwellers--unwilling to go without butter, eggs, poultry, and dairy products--joined the increasing number of black market opportunists. They bartered with servicemen for cigarettes, candy, and gum, then exchanged these commodities for farm products that brought tremendously high prices in Naples. To reach the farmers they stole rides on freight trains that were forbidden to carry passengers. But hundreds of people rode these trains every day, another fact that went unnoticed, officially. |
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==The accident== |
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The [[tunnel]] was steeply graded and the freight train grossly overloaded with illegal passengers. The train stalled with almost all the cars inside the tunnel. The passengers and crew were overcome by the smoke and fumes so slowly that they failed to notice the dangers. Most of the few survivors were in the last few cars which were still in the open air. The main culprit was [[carbon monoxide]] gas produced as a by-product of [[combustion]], and [[carbon monoxide poisoning]] is a well recognized danger when machines are used, or [[fires]] occur in enclosed environments. It combines with [[haemoglobin]] when inhaled, so the victim dies of [[anaemia]] or lack of oxygen. It is still the principal cause of death in [[mine disaster]]s after a [[fire]] or [[explosion]]. |
The [[tunnel]] was steeply graded and the freight train grossly overloaded with illegal passengers. The train stalled with almost all the cars inside the tunnel. The passengers and crew were overcome by the smoke and fumes so slowly that they failed to notice the dangers. Most of the few survivors were in the last few cars which were still in the open air. The main culprit was [[carbon monoxide]] gas produced as a by-product of [[combustion]], and [[carbon monoxide poisoning]] is a well recognized danger when machines are used, or [[fires]] occur in enclosed environments. It combines with [[haemoglobin]] when inhaled, so the victim dies of [[anaemia]] or lack of oxygen. It is still the principal cause of death in [[mine disaster]]s after a [[fire]] or [[explosion]]. |
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Revision as of 20:21, 30 November 2009
In the Balvano train disaster of March 3, 1944, 426 people illegally riding on a steam-hauled freight train died of carbon monoxide poisoning when the train stalled on a steep gradient in the Armi tunnel.[1] The accident occurred in southern Italy, near Balvano (Basilicata).
Circumstances
Naples suffered severe wartime shortages. encouraging an extensive black market. The railways also suffered shortages of high qwuality coal. The burning of low grade substitutes produced a heavy volume of odorless, poisonous carbon monoxide gas, a critical factor in the ensuing disaster.
Many city dwellers--unwilling to go without butter, eggs, poultry, and dairy products--joined the increasing number of black market opportunists. They bartered with servicemen for cigarettes, candy, and gum, then exchanged these commodities for farm products that brought tremendously high prices in Naples. To reach the farmers they stole rides on freight trains that were forbidden to carry passengers. But hundreds of people rode these trains every day, another fact that went unnoticed, officially.
The accident
The tunnel was steeply graded and the freight train grossly overloaded with illegal passengers. The train stalled with almost all the cars inside the tunnel. The passengers and crew were overcome by the smoke and fumes so slowly that they failed to notice the dangers. Most of the few survivors were in the last few cars which were still in the open air. The main culprit was carbon monoxide gas produced as a by-product of combustion, and carbon monoxide poisoning is a well recognized danger when machines are used, or fires occur in enclosed environments. It combines with haemoglobin when inhaled, so the victim dies of anaemia or lack of oxygen. It is still the principal cause of death in mine disasters after a fire or explosion.
There was little publicity at the time owing to the war, but more details became available in the 1950s when relatives of the dead victims pursued a court case against the railway company.
See also
Further reading
- Barneschi, Gianluca (2005). Balvano 1944: I segreti di un disastro ferroviario ignorato. Milano: Mursia. ISBN 88-425-3350-5.
- Peter Semmens, Railway Disasters of the World, Patrick Stephens Ltd (1994).
References
- ^ http://www.trivia-library.com/a/railroad-disaster-on-the-balvano-limited-part-1.htm Railroad Disaster on the Balvano