Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

 1891, February 1 - Head on collision between two freight trains at Ballantynes, 6 miles east of Kingston, Grand Trunk.
 1 dead, several injured, 2 locomotives and 18 cars derailed.

Athens Reporter 8 February 1891 GTR Crash Near Ballantyne’s Station, Norton D. Clow Killed Between seven and eight o’clock on Sunday morning one of the saddest and most destructive accidents that has occurred on the GTR for a long time happened near Ballantyne’s station about six miles east of Kingston , which resulted in the loss of at least one life, the serious if not fatal wounding of several others, and the total destruction of two mogul engines and eighteen freight cars and contents  The morning was foggy and the trains were within half a dozen car lengths before the drivers saw the impending danger, and although the engines were reversed, it was too late to avert the impending crash and the two trains came together with terrific force.  The driver and fireman of the down train were found partially buried under the debris of their engines and were soon extricated from their horrible position.  The driver of the up train was pitched clear over into an adjoining field having been thrown clear off the wreck.  All the hands on the train were more or less injured, how seriously it is impossible yet to say.  When all the train hands had been looked after it was found that all were accounted for except Norton D. Clow, a brakeman on the up-bound train.  He was riding on the engine at the time of the collision and when last seen was in the act of jumping.  He was afterwards found under the debris and must have been killed instantaneously.  He was a son of Hiram Clow, who resides near the cemetery, above Brockville and had only been employed about a year as brakesman although he had been employed at his trade of carpenter for several years by the company.  He was about 23 years of age, single, steady and industrious and a member of the Brockville Lodge of Oddfellows.  The accident was caused by the carelessness of the operator at Kingston as both the conductors had orders to proceed.  It is reported that as soon as he heard of the accident that he packed his valise and left for parts unknown. Almonte Gazette 6 February 1891 Two G.T.R.freight trains collided near Kingston on Sunday morning. Norton Clow, fireman, of Brockville, was killed and three others slightly wounded. Loss about $75,000. One of the operators is to blame. Almonte Gazette 13 February 1891 At the inquest on the body of Clow, the brakeman killed in the collision bear Kingston, the jury returned a verdict holding A.L Laidley, telegraph operator, Kingston, and George Stone, train despatcher, Montreal, responsible for the accident.

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Updated 24 March 2023