New York Public Service Commission

As Luciano approached the curve, he claimed that the air brakes failed, after which he applied the emergency brakes and threw the train into reverse.

Investigators from the New York Public Service Commission and the BRT found after examining the wreckage that the brakes had not failed, the emergency brakes had never been applied, and the motors were never reversed.

No one could explain what Luciano had been doing in those final seconds, but it was obvious that he was totally unprepared for the challenges that faced him that day.

It was 6.42pm when the train reached Malbone Street and roared into the curve.