Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1940, September 1 - C.N.R Transcontinental Limited derailed at Hurdman, CNR., Alexandria sub.

Ottawa Journal 3 September 1940 Train Leaves For West After Derailment The CN.R. fast trans-continerital train drew into Union Station at 10 o'clock Monday morning, more than 10 hours late after the locomotive, two express cars and a day coach were derailed at Hurdman's Bridge. The train left for the West a half an hour later. The derailment was caused by the C.P.R. operator at Hurdman's Bridge who threw the switch to avoid a collision at the cross tracks with the Toronto pool train which was just leaving Ottawa. The right-of-way was cleared by men who worked since 11.35 p.m. Sunday night to put the big locomotive and the cars back on the tracks. Due in Ottawa at 11.40 p.m. the train was proceeding slowly through the yards. The switchman did not think the engineer was going to be able to stop to let other train cross. Acting instantly as the danger loomed, he threw the switch and the train was stopped in its tracks. Passengers for Capreol and other points North were sent out shortly after three o'clock Monday morning on a special train, while those bound for Winnipeg spent the night in Ottawa. W. G. Doherty. assistant superintendent of the Ottawa division, C.N.R. supervised oprations. Bruce Chapman writes (7/2021) My first night at Hurdman in the summer of  1965 was on the 0001-0800 shift. I thought that I had been well-trained by the afternoon operator, Claude DesRosiers, still alive over in Gatineau. There was no list as to when first class trains were due at Hurdman that I could see anywhere. Claude had no longer gone when the switchtender at Riverside called up "Yard  engine for the express terminal!!". So I lined him up and said to him: "ok to go". He roared across the Sussex Street diamond hell-bent for leather with one baggage car of express, and I thought that this was somewhat unusual. Then the CNR Alexandria dispatcher’s phone from Union Station  rang almost immediately: "What’s that going east on the Alex??" I said that it was a yard engine going to the express terminal. He said that I had to get the ok from him to authorize any moves east, as he had CNR #1, the Super Continental by Vars on time, and he didn’t want to give him any yellows. Lesson learned .. the CNR yard engine must have known that he was on #1’s time, which is why he crossed the diamond lickety-split.

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Updated 23 July 2021