Balvano train disaster
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In the Balvano train disaster of March 3, 1944, over 500 people who stole a ride on a steam-hauled freight train died of carbon monoxide poisoning when the train stalled in a tunnel. The accident occurred in Italy.
Ordinarily, the trains on this line were hauled by electric locomotives which of course emit no fumes, but due to war damage to the electrification system, steam engines were replacing electric locomotives. The tunnel was steeply graded and the train grossly overloaded. The train stalled with almost all the cars inside the tunnel. The passengers and crew were overcome by the smoke and fumes so slowly that they failed to notice the dangers. The only survivors were in the last few cars which were still in the open air.
