Hachikō Line derailment

The Hachikō Line derailment (八高線列車脱線転覆事故, Hachikō-sen ressha dassen tenpuku jiko) was a major fatal railway accident which occurred on 25 February 1947 between Komagawa and Higashi-Hannō stations on the Hachikō Line in Japan. It was the worst railway accident to occur in Japan.[1]

Hachikō Line derailment
Details
Date	25 February 1947
Location	Saitama Prefecture
Country	Japan
Line	Hachikō Line
Operator	Japanese Government Railways
Incident type	Derailment
Cause	Excessive speed
Statistics
Trains	1
Deaths	184
Injured	495

A Japanese Government Railways (JGR) passenger train hauled by a Class C57 steam locomotive travelling in the "down" direction derailed on a sharp curve, and four cars rolled over into a field. 184 passengers were killed and 495 were injured.[1] It was later determined that the derailment had occurred due to a combination of excessive speed, and that the high casualty rate was due to the overcrowded wooden passenger cars, which were already worn out by overuse during the war.[2]

JGR used the opportunity to obtain permission from the Supreme Commander of Allied Powers to replace all wooden passenger cars (approximately 3,000 were in use at the time) with steel-bodied cars within a few years.[1][2]

References

1. 歴史でめぐる鉄道全路線 国鉄・JR NO.45 埼京線・八高線・川越線・武蔵野線・京葉線 [Railway Line History - JNR/JR No. 45: Saikyo Line, Hachiko Line, Kawagoe Line, Musashino Line, Keiyo Line]. Japan: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. June 2010. p. 20. EAN 4910222710600.
2. Shima, Hideo. "Birth of The Shinkansen - A Memoir". Japan Railway & Transport Review. EJRCF. 11: 45–48.