100 stories from the hiking route

1924 – first major railway accident in the young Estonian Republic

Information

Topic

Literature and culture

Coordinates

Long-Lat WGS 84

Latitude: 58.692078

Longitude: 26.45585278

L-EST 97

x: 6508424.2
y: 642367.6

Location

Ähijärve-Aegviidu Hiking route

On 3 June 1924, a mail train travelling from Valga to Jõgeva derailed 2.5 km from this location. The train was made up of 11 cars, carrying 284 passengers. The train had reached its maximum speed right before the tragedy, as the tracks went downhill at the site of the accident. Ten people were killed in the accident – six men and four women. Six people were seriously injured.
Not much could be done to help the injured at first, as there were not enough tools or medical supplies. Soon, a trolley with the stationmaster, workers, doctors and nurses arrived from Jõgeva to provide assistance. Working in the darkness of the night was only possible thanks to lanterns. The rescuers had to act carefully as to avoid further injuring victims stuck in the cars.
The Jõgeva train accident was the first major transport accident in the young republic and roused a passionate response. The gravity of the situation was further emphasised by the minister of transportation arriving at the scene along with high-ranking railway and court officials.
According to the investigation committee, the accident was not caused by problems with the track bed or the sleepers. The opinion that foul play was to blame developed quickly. The outer nails that connected the rails on the left side – based on the direction of the movement – to the sleepers had been pulled out in the extent of at least two rails and placed either on the ends of the sleepers or on the ground between them.