Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

 1883, June 23 - Grand Trunk Express derailed at Brockville, minor injuries

Ottawa Citizen June 23 1883 The GTR express going west met with a serious accident at the semaphore just west of the Augusta Road.  It seems that after the engine had passed the rather sharp curve the track spread and a number of cars were thrown from the rails.  The tender went off and the express car pitched down the embankment on the north side and was smashed. The express messenger, whose name is Edward Allen, had just turned the lock of the safe as the accident happened and fortunately escaped any injury. His cap was taken off and laid on one of the trunks, his head narrowly escaped being crushed, being protected from the roof of the car by a big trunk to the presence of which he undoubtedly owes his life. The second car, containing baggage, had the trucks broken from under it. It struck the express car and knocked the end off from it and dashed into the field nearly at right angles to the first. A baggage man named Baggarette and a brakeman were in the car at the time and both escaped with slight injuries. Bagarette had a number of trunks piled on him, but was only slightly bruised about the chest. The two cars were pitched into the field, the expresse turning end for end, the baggage car over the end of it, and landing at right angles to the track. The post office car went off on the south side and ran into the bank which rises about 4 feet there and turned more than half way over. The mail clerk was not hurt, and to beyond some scratches on the side of the car it escaped pretty well. The next was a first-class carriage, and it was tipped partly over to the south side. The car following it also left the track. The Pullman only left the track but was not injured, and the dining car did not leave the rails. The only passengers who complained of being hurt was an old lady named Jane Friar, who belongs to Delta. Her injuries were chiefly from the shock and consequent fright. Dr. Moore, one of the company's surgeons, hastened to the scene of the accident and did what was required and ascertaining the injuries of those injured. A train was immediately dispatched from Brockville to the scene of the accident, and the passengers were brought to the station. The work of clearing the track then begun and vigorously carried on under the direction of Messrs. Robb, McGovern and Minnish. The almost miraculous escape of the passengers and the train hands was undoubtedly due to the Westinghouse air brake and to the great strength of the cars.

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Updated 22 February 2019