Ciurea rail disaster
Encyclopedia
The Ciurea rail disaster occurred on 13 January 1917, at Ciurea
station, Romania
, a station with passing loop
on the railway line from Iaşi
to Bârlad
. Between 600 and 1,000 passengers were killed in a derailment and subsequent fire.
Approaching Ciurea from Bârlad the line descends a steep bank some 10 miles in length between Bârnova
and Ciurea, the gradient being a slope of 1 in 40 increasing to 1 in 15 (6.7%) in places. At 1 PM a train of 26 carriages headed by two locomotives, loaded with wounded Russian soldiers and refugees fleeing from the advance of von Mackensen
's troops, left Bârnova. Passengers were crowded on the carriage roofs and between the carriages above the buffers. When the train was moving a soldier closed the Westinghouse train pipe cock, rendering the train brakes inoperative. The connecting brake pipes between the carriages were damaged by passengers stepping on them. As the train began to descend the bank the drivers found the Westinghouse brake inoperative, and were unable to apply the brakes on the carriages. The braking power of the two engines was insufficient to slow the train, which accelerated quickly. Despite throwing the locomotives into reverse, and operating the sanding equipment to increase the grip of the locomotives' wheels on the track the train crews were unable to slow the train. The straight line at the foot of the bank at Ciurea station was occupied by a second train, and the runaway train was switched to the right into the loop at high speed. The train derailed, only 2 of the 26 carriages remaining on the line, and caught fire burning down to a pile of twisted ironwork.
Ciurea
Ciurea is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania, part of the Iaşi metropolitan area. Situated 7 km south from the county seat of Iaşi, it is composed of seven villages: Ciurea, Curături, Dumbrava, Hlincea, Lunca Cetăţuii, Picioru Lupului and Slobozia...
station, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, a station with passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
on the railway line from Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
to Bârlad
Bârlad
Bârlad is a city in Vaslui County, Romania. It lies on the banks of the Bârlad River, which waters the high plains of eastern Moldavia....
. Between 600 and 1,000 passengers were killed in a derailment and subsequent fire.
Approaching Ciurea from Bârlad the line descends a steep bank some 10 miles in length between Bârnova
Bârnova
Bârnova is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania, part of the Iaşi Metropolitan Area. It is composed of six villages: Bârnova, Cercu, Păun, Pietrăria, Todirel and Vişan.-References:...
and Ciurea, the gradient being a slope of 1 in 40 increasing to 1 in 15 (6.7%) in places. At 1 PM a train of 26 carriages headed by two locomotives, loaded with wounded Russian soldiers and refugees fleeing from the advance of von Mackensen
August von Mackensen
Anton Ludwig August von Mackensen , born August Mackensen, was a German soldier and field marshal. He commanded with success during the First World War and became one of the German Empire's most prominent military leaders. After the Armistice, Mackensen was interned for a year...
's troops, left Bârnova. Passengers were crowded on the carriage roofs and between the carriages above the buffers. When the train was moving a soldier closed the Westinghouse train pipe cock, rendering the train brakes inoperative. The connecting brake pipes between the carriages were damaged by passengers stepping on them. As the train began to descend the bank the drivers found the Westinghouse brake inoperative, and were unable to apply the brakes on the carriages. The braking power of the two engines was insufficient to slow the train, which accelerated quickly. Despite throwing the locomotives into reverse, and operating the sanding equipment to increase the grip of the locomotives' wheels on the track the train crews were unable to slow the train. The straight line at the foot of the bank at Ciurea station was occupied by a second train, and the runaway train was switched to the right into the loop at high speed. The train derailed, only 2 of the 26 carriages remaining on the line, and caught fire burning down to a pile of twisted ironwork.