Naperville train disaster

Naperville train disaster
Details
DateApril 25, 1946; 78 years ago (1946-04-25)
Approx. 1:02 PM
LocationNaperville, Illinois
Coordinates41°46′47″N 88°8′31″W / 41.77972°N 88.14194°W / 41.77972; -88.14194
CountryUnited States
LineChicago Subdivision
OperatorChicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Incident typeRear-end collision
CauseFailure of second train to follow signal
Statistics
TrainsAdvance Flyer and Exposition Flyer
Passengers150 (1st train)
175 (2nd train)
Deaths45
InjuredApprox. 125
DamageDiesel unit split rear passenger car; other cars dented and/or derailed

The Naperville train disaster occurred April 25, 1946, on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad at Loomis Street in Naperville, Illinois, when the railroad's Exposition Flyer rammed into the Advance Flyer, which had made an unscheduled stop to check its running gear. The Exposition Flyer had been coming through on the same track at 80 miles per hour (130 km/h). There were 45 deaths and some 125 injuries. This crash is a major reason why most passenger trains in the United States have a speed limit of 79 mph (127 km/h).