1981 Chengdu-Kunming Railway Train Crash
Encyclopedia
The 1981 Chengdu-Kunming Railway Train Crash occurred on July 9, 1981, when train number 442 passed the failed Liziyida bridge near Ganluo County
, Sichuan
province. More than 200 had died in the accident while 146 were injured. It is the most severe train disaster in the history of the People's Republic of China
.
At 1:41 am, the route 442 passenger train from Geliping to Chengdu
dispatched from the Niri station after crossing Route 221 from Chengdu
to Jinjiang. A minute later the Niri station lost phone contact to the next station Wusi River station when reporting for route 442.
At 1:45 am, route 442 entered the Nainaibao tunnel with a speed of 40 km/h (24.9 mph). After passing the tunnel curve, the driver Wang Mingru discovered that the building near the tunnel exit had collapsed and the light reflections from the rails were missing from the Liziyida bridge. Wang Mingru tried to do an emergency stop but failed because the steep gradients of the rail before the bridge was 14‰.
At 1:46 am, two rail cars, the baggage car
and passenger car No. 11 fell into the river. Passenger car No. 9 and No. 10 crashed into the river bank. Passenger car No. 8 derailed in the tunnel and overturned outside of the tunnel exit.
Ganluo County
Ganluo County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture....
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
province. More than 200 had died in the accident while 146 were injured. It is the most severe train disaster in the history of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Accident
At 1:30 am, a mudslide occurred at the Liziyida gully, a tribute of the Dadu River. The mudslide destroyed the 17 metres (55.8 ft) high, 110 metres (360.9 ft) long Liziyida bridge.At 1:41 am, the route 442 passenger train from Geliping to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
dispatched from the Niri station after crossing Route 221 from Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
to Jinjiang. A minute later the Niri station lost phone contact to the next station Wusi River station when reporting for route 442.
At 1:45 am, route 442 entered the Nainaibao tunnel with a speed of 40 km/h (24.9 mph). After passing the tunnel curve, the driver Wang Mingru discovered that the building near the tunnel exit had collapsed and the light reflections from the rails were missing from the Liziyida bridge. Wang Mingru tried to do an emergency stop but failed because the steep gradients of the rail before the bridge was 14‰.
At 1:46 am, two rail cars, the baggage car
Baggage car
A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
and passenger car No. 11 fell into the river. Passenger car No. 9 and No. 10 crashed into the river bank. Passenger car No. 8 derailed in the tunnel and overturned outside of the tunnel exit.