Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area



1903, April 8 - The CPR Soo Express rear ends a freight train near Calumet, Lachute subdivision, one brakeman killed



Eastern Ontario Review 10 April 1903

A Collision at Calumet
A rear-end pitch-in on the Canadian Pacific Railway, north shore route, near Calumet at 4 o'clock Wednesday morning (8/4). Caused the instant death of brakeman Jos. Burns, formerly of Prescott but recently a resident of Hintonburg.
The collision occurred when the Soo train, going west, plunged into the rear of a freight. The van and three box cars were demolished.
Brakeman Burns was asleep in the van when the pitch-in occurred, and was instantly killed.
Engineer Jack Wilson and Fireman Hanson, of the Soo train, jumped in time to save themselves.
The engine was badly battered up.
Burns' remains were taken in charge of by his brother who brought them on to Ottawa. Mr. Burns brother happened to be at work on the line near where the accident occurred.
The cause of the pitch-in has not yet been made very clear. The freight had just pulled up to take the siding in order to let the express go by, but she did not get clear in time.
The express train was taken back to Outremont and brought up by way of the short line.

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Updated 11 April 2018