staff there to stop train 653. However, the signalman had left the box to watch the arriving train 653 and only picked up the phone after the train had passed. Meanwhile, the switchman from the signal box in Stéblová informed the station dispatcher that train 608 had just passed him, leaving the station area. Collision The collision between trains 608 and 653 happened on kilometer 8.055 at 17:42 (some sources says at 17:44). The speed of the steam train 608 was about 55 km/h, train 653 about 60 km/h. Both drivers braked, but it was too late. The train 608 driver and fireman survived almost unhurt, because the locomotive's construction, especially its long boiler, saved them. The first car (mail) was seriously damaged and derailed. The next car (freight) collided with and demolished the mail car in front of it. The third car (first passenger) was almost totally demolished by the fourth (service) car. The fifth car ran up on the fourth from behind. The remaining seven cars sustained little or no damage. Train 653 experienced much worse damage. Its first railcar was lifted on top of the forward part of train 608's steam locomotive. The first passenger car crashed into the locomotive's side, and next three passenger cars collided with it and were totally crushed. The rearmost railcar cut loose and stayed on the track. In order to prevent a boiler explosion, the steam machine driver and fireman dumped their firebox on the ground. The hot coals and ashes ignited diesel fuel leaking from the first railcar, and the train burst into flame. Rescue operation The rescue operation started at around 18:00, with the help of medical teams from Pardubice and Hradec Králové, members of police (then called Public Security), soldiers from the nearby military school and local citizens. The field first aid post was set up, ambulances transported the injured to hospitals in Pardubice and Hradec Králové and the operations were run even in maternity home. Special trains equipped with cranes were sent to the place of disaster to deal with the wreckage. Most survivors were rescued before 20:00. The last survivor was found under the wreckage at around 23:00, but died during transportation. Wreckage of disaster and the debris was removed on the next day, 15 November 1960 at around 11:30. At 12:30 the first scheduled train went through. During the cleanup, 5 fast, 21 passenger, and