Via Rail train derailment

Milne Jan 9, 2004

  1. Milne

    Milne TrainBoard Supporter

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    pictures - http://railpast.railfan.ca/viaderail.htm

    London Free Press -

    NEW HAMBURG -- A Via Rail train en route to Toronto from London veered off the tracks yesterday morning, stranding passengers and crew members and sending diesel fuel spilling out into the cold. Thirty passengers and four crew members were aboard Train 86 when it jumped the tracks and came to a halt, Via Rail's Catherine Kaloutsky said.

    She said only one injury was reported in the derailment -- a young female passenger was burned with hot coffee that spilled when the train skidded.

    Minutes after the train jumped the tracks, emergency personnel were on the site to deal with diesel fuel spilling from the engine.

    "There was a diesel leak that was contained very quickly," said Kaloutsky.

    "The fire department was on site and investigators from the Ministry of the Environment were on site as well."

    Kaloutsky said passengers stranded by the derailment were ferried to Toronto by a train from nearby Kitchener.

    "It was scary," said one passenger from Stratford. "It was rattling a lot."

    Joe Wurm, a cattle farmer who owns the property south of the derailment, allowed a number of emergency service workers and reporters to park their vehicles by his barn and walk to the accident.

    "I didn't even know what happened until the police knocked on my door this morning," said Wurm.

    "I've lived here 25 years and I don't remember a train ever going off the tracks."

    The cause of the derailment is being investigated, but Waterloo Regional police said the train ran over a piece of broken track at a level cro
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    What sort of temperatures were there at the time? Possibly a broken rail due to cold? Do the Canadian railroads have any sort of procedure for issuing slow orders during cold spells?

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  3. MagicMan_841

    MagicMan_841 TrainBoard Member

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    I dunno but here in Quebec City there are intense cold warning and with the wind it was -40 centigrade today and yesterday and will be tommorow...
     
  4. Milne

    Milne TrainBoard Supporter

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    2003/01/10

    Via Rail train #199 (Vancouver Island) struck a rock slide near MP16 Victoria subdivision, E&N Railway (between Langford and Malahat). No injuries reported, but there is damage to the RDC.
     
  5. Milne

    Milne TrainBoard Supporter

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    On Vancouver Island, Via trains 199 and 198 (RDC) did not operate January 6 - 9 because a recent weather front that left trees on the tracks. The run this morning was discontinue when the RDC's derailed about 4 k north of Victoria. Apparently there was a lot of ice on the tracks. Passengers will be bused.

    Maintenance on this line is done by RailAmerica.

    Milne
     
  6. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    :eek: There's a miracle if I've ever seen one! Those are some lucky people! [​IMG]

    :(

    Boxcab E50
     

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