This is the Montparnasse derailment, the most famous in history, which occurred on October 22, 1895. The Granville–Paris Express, running behind schedule and moving too fast with the driver trying to make up for lost time, overran the buffer stop at its Gare Montparnasse terminus. As they approached the station and tried to apply the air brake, it did not work. By the time the engineer applied the hand break but it was too late. After running through the buffer stop, the train crossed the station concourse and crashed through the station wall. The locomotive fell onto the Place de Rennes below, where it stood on its nose.

It stayed that way for three days while officials began trying to move it. This gave people plenty of time to come by and take photos, which is why it is so famous.