On the morning of February 1, 1964, a diesel-hauled[1] twelve-carriage holiday excursion train left the seaside resort of Mar Del Plata on its 230-mile journey north to the capital, Buenos Aires. It carried 1040 passengers returning home after their summer vacation. At Altamirano, 65 miles south of the capital the Firefly Express as it was called, travelling at 100 km/h[1] crashed head-on with a steam-hauled[1] freight train with a thunderous explosion.
The accident happened 250m from the station at Altamarino.[1] Both locomotives exploded, spreading burning diesel fuel over a wide area. Most in the first carriage died quickly and those in the next two carriages were quickly consumed in the flames. Rescue workers were delayed by the muddy condition of the roads in the area following recent rainstorms. Once they arrived though they were unable to approach the wreck for several hours due to the intense heat. The police doctor, who gave an estimate of 34 deaths, admitted that the exact figure would never be known. "There is no telling how many bodies burned up in the fire". The cause of the disaster was thought to be a fault in the points (switch) which diverted the express into the path of the freight train.[3]
