Paris October 22nd, 1895, chaos erupted at the  Gare Montparnasse train station as the brakes  
Paris October 22nd, 1895, chaos erupted at the  Gare Montparnasse train station as the brakes  

fail to stop Locomotive number 721 from plowing  through the terminus bumper and plummeting 10  
fail to stop Locomotive number 721 from plowing  through the terminus bumper and plummeting 10  

meters onto the Plaza below. The incident was over  in a matter of seconds, but it was one that left  
meters onto the Plaza below. The incident was over  in a matter of seconds, but it was one that left  

a lasting impact in the form of some of the most  powerful images ever captured on photograph. Here  
a lasting impact in the form of some of the most  powerful images ever captured on photograph. Here  

now is the story of what happened in the fatal  moment the Granville Paris Express lost control. 
now is the story of what happened in the fatal  moment the Granville Paris Express lost control. 

The train departed Granville on schedule at  8:45 earlier that morning, it was carrying  
The train departed Granville on schedule at  8:45 earlier that morning, it was carrying  

131 passengers. The consist was composed of  the Locomotive 721 which was a 2-4-0 type  
131 passengers. The consist was composed of  the Locomotive 721 which was a 2-4-0 type  

coal-fired engine, the French notation is 1-2-0.  It was hauling three luggage wagons, a post van,  
coal-fired engine, the French notation is 1-2-0.  It was hauling three luggage wagons, a post van,  

and 6 passenger carriages. As the train made  its way to Paris, it was making poor time,  
and 6 passenger carriages. As the train made  its way to Paris, it was making poor time,  

running about 10 minutes late, the Engineer  sped up the train in order to make up time. 
running about 10 minutes late, the Engineer  sped up the train in order to make up time. 

The train was approaching the station at  a speed between 40-60 kilometers per hour,  
The train was approaching the station at  a speed between 40-60 kilometers per hour,  

or about 25-37 miles per hour. The Engineer began  to operate the Westinghouse air brake in order  
or about 25-37 miles per hour. The Engineer began  to operate the Westinghouse air brake in order  

to bring the train in for a smooth stop at the  terminus, however, the brakes were not engaging  
to bring the train in for a smooth stop at the  terminus, however, the brakes were not engaging  

and the Engineer had only moments to  resolve the issue and slow the train down.  
and the Engineer had only moments to  resolve the issue and slow the train down.  

What followed was a failure to stop the  train, it ran through the bumper at the  
What followed was a failure to stop the  train, it ran through the bumper at the  

end of the track and its momentum carried  it across the 98-foot wide concourse,  
end of the track and its momentum carried  it across the 98-foot wide concourse,  

smashing through a 60-centimeter thick masonry  wall, shattering the window above it. The engine  
smashing through a 60-centimeter thick masonry  wall, shattering the window above it. The engine  

continued traveling out of the building and  fell 33 feet down to the Place de Rennes below,  
continued traveling out of the building and  fell 33 feet down to the Place de Rennes below,  

it landed on its forward frame and the back of the  engine pinned the tender in a precarious position. 
it landed on its forward frame and the back of the  engine pinned the tender in a precarious position. 

Miraculously, all 131 passengers survived,  including the train crew, although 6 people were  
Miraculously, all 131 passengers survived,  including the train crew, although 6 people were  

injured including the fireman, two conductors,  two passengers, and a pedestrian at street level.  
injured including the fireman, two conductors,  two passengers, and a pedestrian at street level.  

Unfortunately, the incident  was not without fatality.  
Unfortunately, the incident  was not without fatality.  

The engine had landed on a newspaper stand that  was being operated by Marie-Augustine Aguillard.  
The engine had landed on a newspaper stand that  was being operated by Marie-Augustine Aguillard.  

Her husband normally operated the newsstand  but asked her to watch over it as he went to  
Her husband normally operated the newsstand  but asked her to watch over it as he went to  

retrieve more papers. He returned to find his  wife crushed to death by the fallen masonry. 
retrieve more papers. He returned to find his  wife crushed to death by the fallen masonry. 

The wreck site was stabilized in place  for four days as investigators gathered  
The wreck site was stabilized in place  for four days as investigators gathered  

evidence and studied the crash. The view of the  aftermath drew large crowds of onlookers each day,  
evidence and studied the crash. The view of the  aftermath drew large crowds of onlookers each day,  

allowing both professional and amateur  photographers to capture photos of the site.  
allowing both professional and amateur  photographers to capture photos of the site.  

Eventually, workers were allowed to  start cleaning up the area. At first,  
Eventually, workers were allowed to  start cleaning up the area. At first,  

they tried using 14 horses to hoist the locomotive  and ease it down, but that was without success.  
they tried using 14 horses to hoist the locomotive  and ease it down, but that was without success.  

They then brought in a 250-tonne winch, and with  the help of 10 men, they lowered the engine and  
They then brought in a 250-tonne winch, and with  the help of 10 men, they lowered the engine and  

then carefully lifted it back up to the station  platform. From there other locomotives hooked up  
then carefully lifted it back up to the station  platform. From there other locomotives hooked up  

to the carriages and wagons hauling them away,  while the engine was taken to a repair shop.  
to the carriages and wagons hauling them away,  while the engine was taken to a repair shop.  

Surprisingly the locomotive and cars  had sustained minimal damage and were  
Surprisingly the locomotive and cars  had sustained minimal damage and were  

quickly repaired and put back into service. The investigation into the incident revealed  
quickly repaired and put back into service. The investigation into the incident revealed  

that the Engineer, who had 19 years of experience  working for the railroad had intended to make up  
that the Engineer, who had 19 years of experience  working for the railroad had intended to make up  

for lost time, and so ran the locomotive faster  than usual, flying past areas of recommended  
for lost time, and so ran the locomotive faster  than usual, flying past areas of recommended  

brake application. When he attempted to apply  the air brakes, the system did not immediately  
brake application. When he attempted to apply  the air brakes, the system did not immediately  

respond due to the high speed, the engineer  had taken a moment to try to resolve the issue  
respond due to the high speed, the engineer  had taken a moment to try to resolve the issue  

but this wasted precious time. The Fireman was  preoccupied during this time, but when he noticed  
but this wasted precious time. The Fireman was  preoccupied during this time, but when he noticed  

they were approaching too fast, he then went to  apply the hand brake, but it was too late. It  
they were approaching too fast, he then went to  apply the hand brake, but it was too late. It  

was said that the fireman was declared guilty  of not properly engaging the brakes himself.  
was said that the fireman was declared guilty  of not properly engaging the brakes himself.  

In the end, the cause of the crash was  negligence on the part of the locomotive’s crew. 
In the end, the cause of the crash was  negligence on the part of the locomotive’s crew. 

The next year, on the 30th of March, 1896, the  court fined the Fireman 25 francs with deferment  
The next year, on the 30th of March, 1896, the  court fined the Fireman 25 francs with deferment  

while the Engineer was sentenced to two months  in jail plus a fine of 50 francs with deferment.  
while the Engineer was sentenced to two months  in jail plus a fine of 50 francs with deferment.  

The railroad itself was designated  legally responsible for the crash,  
The railroad itself was designated  legally responsible for the crash,  

and after the public put pressure on the  company, they agreed to provide financial support  
and after the public put pressure on the  company, they agreed to provide financial support  

for Marie-Augustine Aguillard’s two children  in the years after the loss of their mother. 
for Marie-Augustine Aguillard’s two children  in the years after the loss of their mother. 

The train wreck at Gare Montparnasse is a  stark reminder of how a day can start out  
The train wreck at Gare Montparnasse is a  stark reminder of how a day can start out  

with a typical commute from one city to another,  
with a typical commute from one city to another,  

only for things to go off the rails, and  for tragedy to strike with an iron fist.
only for things to go off the rails, and  for tragedy to strike with an iron fist.