Ricken Tunnel railway accident

At 11:55 am, freight train #6854 left Kaltbrunn station.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|date=1926-10-06|format=PDF; 369 kB|pages=2|title=Furchtbare Katastrophe im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/resolver?field=MD_OLDPURL_UNTOKENIZED&identifier=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/LIVB/1926/19261006/Seite_2.pdf|website=Liechtensteiner Volksblatt}} The train, led by a B 3/4 steam locomotive, had six Swiss Federal Railways personnel aboard and a trailing load of {{convert|252|t|ST}}. It entered the tunnel at a speed of {{convert|20|km/h|mph}}. The locomotive's maximum trailing load for this route at the time was {{convert|260|t|ST}}.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|format=PDF 0.7 MB|pages=227|publisher=Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Band 88 (1926), Heft 16|title=Rauchgase-Unfall im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?rid=sbz-002:1926:87::584}}

As the train continued uphill through the tunnel, its speed gradually decreased due to insufficient steam generation. After {{frac|6|1|2}} minutes or {{convert|1|km|mi}} of travel, the train got stuck on the incline because it was using low-quality fuel briquettes.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|format=PDF 0.7 MB|pages=227|publisher=Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Band 88 (1926), Heft 16|title=Rauchgase-Unfall im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?rid=sbz-002:1926:87::584}}{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|format=PDF 1.3 MB|pages=253|publisher=Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Band 88 (1926), Heft 18|title=Rickentunnel|url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?rid=sbz-002:1926:87::616}} The locomotive crew failed to get the train moving again.

Due to poor ventilation in the tunnel, there wasn't enough oxygen for the steam locomotive's fire, resulting in incomplete combustion. Consequently, the locomotive's exhaust gases increasingly consisted of toxic carbon monoxide instead of non-toxic carbon dioxide. Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin in the blood, blocking the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body. Forensic investigations later confirmed that the victims suffocated from carbon monoxide.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|date=1926-10-09|format=PDF; 294 kB|pages=7|title=Zum Unglück im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/resolver?field=MD_OLDPURL_UNTOKENIZED&identifier=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/LIVB/1926/19261009/Seite_7.pdf|website=Liechtensteiner Volksblatt}}

According to the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, there was an exceptionally strong anticyclone (high-pressure area) on the north side of the Alps on the day of the incident. The lack of air-pressure difference prevented the toxic smoke from escaping the tunnel.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|format=PDF 1.4 MB|pages=240|publisher=Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Band 88 (1926), Heft 17|title=Rauchgase-Unfall im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?rid=sbz-002:1926:87::600}}

An eight-person rescue team came from Wattwil in a passenger car with breathing equipment. Due to poor visibility, the rescuers could only advance step-by-step to the accident site for the last kilometer. Since several helpers became unconscious, the rescue attempt had to be abandoned. Nevertheless, they still managed to bring the crew's unconscious fireman back to Wattwil.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|date=1926-10-06|format=PDF; 369 kB|pages=2|title=Furchtbare Katastrophe im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/resolver?field=MD_OLDPURL_UNTOKENIZED&identifier=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/LIVB/1926/19261006/Seite_2.pdf|website=Liechtensteiner Volksblatt}}{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|date=1926-10-06|format=PDF; 315 kB|pages=3|title=Das Personal eines Güterzuges im Rickentunnel erstickt|url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/resolver?field=MD_OLDPURL_UNTOKENIZED&identifier=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/LINA/1926/19261006/Seite_3.pdf|website=Liechtensteiner Nachrichten}}{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|date=1926-10-09|format=PDF; 393 kB|pages=2|title=Die Katastrophe im Ricken|url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/resolver?field=MD_OLDPURL_UNTOKENIZED&identifier=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/LINA/1926/19261009/Seite_2.pdf|website=Liechtensteiner Nachrichten}}

Two of the rescuers had to be left in the tunnel. One rescuer and the fireman died upon being brought back to Wattwil.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|date=1926-10-16|format=PDF; 314 kB|pages=7|title=Die Todesursache im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/resolver?field=MD_OLDPURL_UNTOKENIZED&identifier=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/LIVB/1926/19261016/Seite_7.pdf|website=Liechtensteiner Volksblatt}}

A later attempt from Kaltbrunn to reach the accident site with a rescue train also failed. Only after 8 pm, with the help of a handcar, respirators, and oxygen masks, were they able to reach the accident site from Kaltbrunn.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|format=PDF 1.2 MB|pages=213|publisher=Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Band 88 (1926), Heft 15|title=Rauchgas-Unfall im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?rid=sbz-002:1926:87::569}} By that point, recovery work was no longer hindered by smoke and gas. The train crew and the two rescuers from Wattwil were found dead, raising the death toll to nine. The victims on the train were found lying or sitting in the wagons. Two of the victims were found outside of the train, in alcoves in the tunnel. One of the deceased rescuers from Wattwil had apparently tried to contact the station using the tunnel telephone.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|date=1926-10-06|format=PDF; 369 kB|pages=2|title=Furchtbare Katastrophe im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/resolver?field=MD_OLDPURL_UNTOKENIZED&identifier=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/LIVB/1926/19261006/Seite_2.pdf|website=Liechtensteiner Volksblatt}} When the rescue team arrived, the train's kerosene lanterns were still burning, but the briquettes on the grate had burned out.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|format=PDF 0.7 MB|pages=227|publisher=Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Band 88 (1926), Heft 16|title=Rauchgase-Unfall im Rickentunnel|url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?rid=sbz-002:1926:87::584}}

Following the accident, the allowed trailing load of the trains was reduced, and train staff were equipped with oxygen masks. In Wattwil and Kaltbrunn, rescue equipment was installed.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|date=1926-10-09|format=PDF; 393 kB|pages=2|title=Die Katastrophe im Ricken|url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/resolver?field=MD_OLDPURL_UNTOKENIZED&identifier=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/LINA/1926/19261009/Seite_2.pdf|website=Liechtensteiner Nachrichten}} Shortly after the accident, the line would be electrified.{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-26|format=PDF 1.3 MB|pages=253|publisher=Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Band 88 (1926), Heft 18|title=Rickentunnel|url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?rid=sbz-002:1926:87::616}} On May 7, 1927, electric operation on the Rapperswil–Wattwil route, including the tunnel, commenced.

On March 1, 1916, there was an accident involving smoke gases near the middle of the Ricken Tunnel in which four railway workers lost consciousness. One of them managed to alert the Wattwil station, leading to a search and rescue operation. One of the rescuers also became unconscious and needed medical attention.

{{reflist}}

• Amstein, Alex; Schwabe, Hansrudolf; Willen, Peter; Wyrsch, Karl (1997). 3 x 50 Jahre. Schweizer Eisenbahnen in Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft. Basel: Pharos. ISBN 9783723002353.
• Bachem, A. (1911). Der Rickentunnel. In: Denkschrift, Bodensee–Toggenburg–Zürichsee. St. Gallen.
• Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz. Schweers + Wall. Cologne, 2002.
• Heer, A. (2010). 100 Jahre Rickenbahn. Merk- und Denkwürdiges zum ersten Basistunnel der Schweiz. In: Toggenburger Jahrbuch 2011. Wattwil.
• Staatsanwaltschaft St. Gallen (1927). Bericht zu Handen der Staatsanwaltschaft des Kantons St. Gallen und der zuständigen Bundesbehörden über das Ergebnis der strafrechtlichen Untersuchung des Bezirksamtes Seebezirk Kt. St. Gallen betreffend das Eisenbahnunglück im Rickentunnel (km 4,1) Zug 6631 und die verunglückte Rettungsexpedition von Wattwil vom 4. Oktober 1926.

Category:Railway tunnel disasters

Category:Railway accidents in 1926

Category:Railway accidents and incidents in Switzerland

Category:Deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning