Gualliguaica rail accident
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gualliguaica rail accident | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Date | March 11, 1971 |
| Location | near Vicuña, Elqui Province |
| Country | Chile |
| Line | La Serena to Rivadavia |
| Operator | EFE |
| Incident type | derailment |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Passengers | 350 |
| Deaths | 12 |
The Gualliguaica rail accident happened on March 11, 1971, near Vicuña, Chile, when a runaway train packed with children derailed next to a ravine killing twelve. It was caused by failure to keep brakes applied during station stops.
The train was transporting schoolchildren on a day trip from La Serena to Vicuña to visit the Gabriela Mistral museum. The journey to Vicuna had proceeded without incident. After lunch the diesel locomotive ran around the train for the return trip as the children took their places in the five-car train. The train crew were in the stationmaster's office, finalising details of the return trip when the train started to move off. Those aboard the train thought nothing was amiss but there was no-one manning the locomotive. When the rail staff realised what was happening they unsuccessfully attempted to board the train in motion but being on a slope it quickly accelerated away from the station. Eight miles down the line at Cuesta de Gualliguaica the line makes a sharp bend next to the Elqui River. At this point the train derailed plunging into the ravine.[1]
President Salvador Allende was flown to the scene of the tragedy in an Air Force plane and demanded that those responsible for the accident be punished.
