Jan Perner
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Jan Perner (September 7, 1815 in Bratčice near Čáslav - September 10, 1845 in Pardubice) was a Czech railway engineer. During 1842 - 1845 was responsible for construction of several railways in Austrian Empire.
Perner was born into family of water-mill owner. During 1830-33 he studied at engineering school in Prague (led by František Josef Gerstner). When his teacher Gerstner looked for engineers for construction of railways in Sankt Petersburg area of Imperial Russia Perner joined the project (1836). Due to problems in communication with Gerstner he left in the same year. In 1837 he started to work at state railway company and was gradually promoted to take responsibility for construction works. In 1842 he started to design and oversee construction of important railways Prague - Pardubice - Olomouc and Prague - Dresden.
The railway from Prague to Pardubice (over 250 km) was finished in 1845. On September 9 1845, while Perner was returning from an inspection trip he looked out of the window of a moving train (near Choceň). His head hit a pole, and severely injured, Perner died on the next day. He has dubious fame of being first person who died in railway accident in Bohemia.
Today one of faculties of University of Pardubice is named after him: Jan Perner Transport Faculty (Dopravní fakulta Jana Pernera) [1].
An InterCity class train of railway operator České dráhy bears name Jan Perner.
