Canadian Transportation Safety Board Accident Reports on the IGRS CD-ROM
 

Listed in chronological order, with the most recent first
 

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1.) Derailment of VIA Rail Canada Train No. 2 near Biggar, Saskatchewan on September 3, 1997

Cause:  Broken axle on lead locomotive resulting from overheated traction motor suspension bearing.

2.) Accident Involving CPR train 121-13 near Bedell, Ontario on August 13, 1997

  Cause:  Improperly secured trailer on flat car that struck bridge abutment.

3.) Derailment of CN Train 102 near West Conrad on March 26, 1997

  Cause:  Washout due to heavy snow meltoff.

4.) Incident Involving CN Train No. 590, switching at Maitland, Ontario on January 30, 1997

Cause:  Trainman observed broken truck sideframe on tank car while switching in yard – no derailment occurred.

5.) Trespasser Strike Involving VIA Rail Canada Train No. 76 in Tecumseh, Ontario in 1996

Cause:  Trespassers on track, struck at 83 MPH.  Raises concerns about adequacy of locomotive horns.

6.) Derailment of CP/St. Lawrence & Hudson train near Dalhousie Mills, Quebec in 1996

Cause:  Wheel climb derailment due to excessive car body roll and speed induced truck hunting caused by worn suspension damping components.

7.) Runaway and Derailment of Cars from CN train near Nanticoke, Ontario in 1996

Cause:  Tank cars not securely coupled during switching operation, derail not in derailing position prior to accident.

8.) Collision of CN Train No. 117 with Runaway Freight Cars near Edson, Alberta on August 12, 1996

Cause:  Insufficient hand brakes applied to secure cars, derail not in position to stop runaway cars.

9.) Runaway of CP train No. 607-042 on Field Hill near Stephen on April 12, 1996

Cause:  Repetitive braking depleted air reservoirs, could not recharge, did not set retainers, intermittent comm. with Locotrol mid-train helper locomotives.

10.) Derailment of VIA Rail Canada train No. 60 near Guildwood Station, Ontario on March 21, 1996

Cause:  Water froze in a disk brake actuator, causing disc brake to lock up and skid wheel for over 240 miles, flattening wheel.

11.) Derailment of CN train near Moncton, New Brunswick in 1996

Cause:  Rail head and web fracture, initiated by a vertical split head developed from a metallurgical flaw.  Contributing to severity of accident was failure of steel outer jacket on Class 111A tank car, loaded with butane.

Cause:  Yard crew momentarily lost point protection for remote-controlled yard move, allowing move to proceed through a crossover not properly lined and into the side of a standing train.

13.) Collision of Runaway Freight Cars with CN train A402-21-27 near St. Gregiore, Quebec in 1996

Cause:  59 cars left unsecured on main track with air brakes and an unvented brake pipe – train brakes were released by inadvertent activation of the car’s pressure-sensitive quick release feature by a pressure wave created in the train brake pipe at uncoupling.

14.) Collision of two Hi-Rail Vehicles on CN near Armstrong, Ontario on January 11, 1996

Cause:  Excessive speed for both vehicles, limited stopping ability on wet rail, overlapping Track Occupancy Permits.

15.) Collision of trains 819 and 996 on CN near Greely, British Columbia in 1995

Cause:  Engineer passed stop signal due to fatigue and obscuration of signal due to localized dense fog.

16.) Derailment of train 418 in Brantford, Ontario in 1995

Cause:  Conductor incorrectly calculated number of cars siding could hold and was not properly positioned to control movement, causing three tank cars to be shoved beyond end of siding and resulting hazmat evacuation.

17.) Collision between trains 401 and 992-19 in Savona, British Columbia in 1995

Cause:  Engineer failed to comply with Stop Signal.

18.) Derailment of CP train 291 in Lennoxville, Quebec in 1995

Cause:  Cross-level defects in track led to tank car “body roll”, causing wheel-climb derailment, hazmat release and evacuation.

19.) Collision between CP trains 921-17 and “3rd Emery” near Leaside Yard, Ontario on May 18, 1995

Cause:  Operation of train at speed in excess of that permitted by signal indication, alcohol impairment.

20.) Derailment of VIA Rail Canada train No. 1 near Blue River, Ontario in 1995

Cause:  Locomotive wheel suffered catastrophic fracture, which then struck, broke and displaced the rail.  Wheel defect traced to internal overstress crack.

21.) Trespasser Strike Involving CN train 395 in Brockville in 1995

Cause:  Two pedestrians stepped in path of westward train while their attention was fixed on a passing eastward train.

22.) Collision between CN yard train and CSX train 405 in 1995

Cause:  Engineer inadvertently fouled main track and struck side of passing train after focusing his attention on the location of his conductor rather than the route ahead.

23.) Hazardous Materials Release from Tank Car in Sarnia, Ontario in 1995

Cause:  Leak of product (toluene) occurred as result of fracture caused by fatigue crack in weld joining brake cylinder mounting pad to tank car.

24.) Collision of CN freight trains 386-15, 308-15, 223-15 and 272-15 in London, Ontario in 1995

Cause:  Engineer experienced a “sleep episode”, causing him to pass a Stop Signal and collide with the other trains.

25.) Collision of CN freight trains 333 and 551 on the Stamford Subdivision in 1995

Cause:  Failure to operate train in accordance with restricted speed signal.

26.) Derailment of CN train 724-20 on the La Tuque Subdivision on January 21, 1995

Cause:  Deteriorated ties allowed rail to spread under load, causing wide gauge derailment.  Caused sulfuric acid release from Class 111A tank cars.

27.) Derailment of CP train 981-20 after striking fallen rock on the Nelson Subdivision in 1995

Cause:  Previously undetected rock fractures, no slide detector fence in the area.

28.) Collision of CN train 313-1M-14 with tractor trailer in Causapscal, Quebec in 1994

Cause:  Trailer not securely connected to tractor.  RTC (Rail Traffic Controller) inadvertently authorized train to proceed through area after having been informed that the track was obstructed by the trailer.

29.) Collision of VIA Rail Canada train 66 with debris on track  in Brighton, Ontario on November 20, 1994

Cause:  Vandals placed section of rail on track, which was struck by train at 96 MPH, rupturing locomotive fuel tank, engulfing it and the train in flames.  Report discusses survivability factors of VIA passenger cars.

30.) Collision of VIA Rail Canada train 66 with tractor-trailer in Riviere Beaudette, Quebec on November 4, 1994

Cause:  Truck driver entered crossing after gates picked up behind rear of train move.  Crossing immediately reactivated and truck was struck by second train before it could clear the crossing. Locomotive fuel tank ruptured and fire ensued.

31.) Collision of CN trains 448 and 386 near MacMillan Yard in 1994

Cause:  Crew operated train in access of restricted speed required by signal indication.  Rear of standing train 448 was protected by a reflective marker instead of illuminated light, making rear of train difficult to see at night. Contributing factor may have been crew fatigue.

32.) Collision between Yard Assignments 2230 and 2359 in Regina Yard, Regina, Saskatchewan, on October 18, 1994

Cause:  Main track switch left in reverse position by previous yard crew, inadequate supervision of yard operation practices.

33.) Derailment of CP train 971-14 near Lethbridge, Alberta in 1994

Cause:  Undetected fatigue cracks caused rail to break under train, causing derailment and hazmat release involving Class 111A tank cars.

34.) Collision of CN train 404-5A-22 with garbage truck  in 1994

Cause:  Truck failed to stop at crossing – crossing not equipped with flashers or gates, restricted sight line due to vegetation.

35.) Collision of CN trains 418 and 421 near Garneau Yard in 1994

Cause:  Both trains, operating in a location with limited visibility, were being operated at speeds in access of Restricted Speed.  In addition, Yardmaster authorized conflicting movements on the same track in opposite directions.

36.) Derailment of CN train 336-KP-24 near Orient Bay, Ontario on April 25, 1994

Cause:  Water infiltration of the subgrade caused a track washout.

37.) Collision of CP “0759 Churchill Yard Assignment” with dump truck in Lethbridge, Alberta in 1994

Cause:  Train crew did not stop short of the crossing and wait 20 seconds to occupy crossing per railway instructions.  In addition, dump truck brakes were seriously deficient, with no brakes on the steering axle.

38.) Derailment of CN train 380-06 on March 6, 1994

Cause:  Broken rail due to a rail head fracture initiated by an undetected vertical split head defect.

39.) Derailment of Algoma Central Railway Co. train Extra 202 South near Hearst, Ontario on February 26, 1994

Cause:  Broken splice bar at rail joint.

40.) “False Proceed” signal involving CP train 409-22 on the North Toronto Subdivision in 1994

Cause:  Unknown - Signal Dept. personnel unable to reproduce occurrence.

41.) Derailment of CN train 302-27 on the Ruel Subdivision on January 30, 1994

Cause:  Broken rail consisting of a rail head fracture, initiated by a vertical split head.

42.) Tank car leak involving CN Yard Assignment 0703 in Riviere-des-Prairies Yard in Montreal, Quebec on January 27, 1994

Cause:  Tank car shell fractured as a result of being subjected to impact forces higher than the anticipated limits of the car design.

43.) Runaway car involving CN “0800 Yard Assignment” near Sarcee Yard in 1994

Cause:  Train crew used “running switch” method to place car in siding in violation of CN operating instructions.  In addition, car had defective hand brakes.

44.) Derailment involving CN train 218-19 on the Caramat Subdivision in 1994

Cause:  Vertical split head defect in rail caused horizontal rail failure along the bolt holes.

45.) Runaway train involving CN train Extra 4516 South on the Grande Cache Subdivision in 1994

Cause:  Snow and ice buildup reduced effectiveness of brakes, engineer did not perform pre-departure brake test, locomotive dynamic braking inoperative due to defect.

46.) Collision of CN Sarcee Yard Assignment and CP 1500 Ogden Park Yard Assignments in Sarcee Yard on December 3, 1993

Cause:  Train crews exceeded Restricted Speed in yard, each crew was unaware of the other’s movements.

47.) Derailment of CN train Extra 5214 North near the Wanapitei River Bridge in 1993

Cause:  Lack of sidebearing clearance and worn truck components led to a wheel climb derailment on a curve.  A hydrogen sulfide leak resulted.

48.) Derailment of VIA Rail Canada train 37 on the Alexandria Subdivision in 1993

Cause:  Broken axle on club car caused when stresses caused by shelled wheel exceeded its designed “endurance limit.”

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