Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area



1942, February to May - The Canadian Army Train (also known as the Victory Train) Tours Canada





In early 1942 the Canadian army assembled a 15 coach train, including two flat cars, to carry nearly every piece of equipment and machinery in use at that time.
The machines ranged from the big Valentine tank, with its gun turret, a powerful diesel powered searchlight, to then new round bayonet.
The display section was made up of the two flat cars and seven baggage cars. A railed-off passage allowed the public to pass through. Between 1,200 and 1,800 people could see the exhibit each hour.

Purposes of Display
To acquaint the public with the various units of the army and to demonstrate their use.
To exhibit modern army equipment.
To show the technical training acquired by the men.
To aid recruiting.
To promote the war loan (Victory Bonds).
To assist the Red Cross in registering blood transfusion donors.
 
The Route in Chronological Order

Ontario
February 4 - Depart Ottawa after a private visit by the Governor General and other dignitaries
Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Perth
February 5 - Peterborough, Lindsay
February 6 - Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Orillia
February 7 - Midland, Barrie, Collingwood
February 8 - Guelph, Galt, Kitchener
February 9 - Stratford, Owen Sound
February 10 - Harriston, Clinton, Goderich
February 11 - Sarnia, Leamington
February 12 - Windsor
February 13 - Chatham, London,
February 14 - Paris, Brantford
February 15 - Simcoe
February 16 - Welland, Fort Erie, Niafara Falls
February 17 - St. Catharines, Hamilton ,(Guelph?)
February 18 - Georgetown, Brampton, Toronto
February 19 - Toronto CPR Noth Toronto station
February 20 - Toronto CPR "Fez City" yard near the Fort York Armouries
February 21 - Oshawa
February 22 - Kingston
February 23 - Brockville, Cornwall
Quebec
February 24 - Rigaud, Ste. Anne de Bellevue
February 24-26 - Montreal
February 27 - Montreal (depart early), Valleyfield, St. Johns, Farnham
February 28 - St. Hyacinthe,Drummondville
March 1 - Sherbrooke, Thetford Mines
March 2 - Lake Megantic
New Brunswick
March 3 - St. Stephen, Woodstock
March 4 - Fredericton, Saint John
Nova Scotia
March 8 - Kentville
March 11 - Halifax
Prince Edward Island
March 16-17 - Visit cancelled at the request of provincial and civic authorities, Charlottetown and Summerside boards of trade, and the Canadian Legion Provincial Command because only one car ferry now was available for traffic to Prince Edward Island from the mainland
Quebec
March 20 - Rimouski, Riviere-du-Loup
March 23 - Quebec City (Cardinal Villeneuve "drove" a "jeep")
March 24 - Three Rivers
Grand'Mere, Shawinigan Falls, Louiseville, Berthier, Lanorie, Joliette, Ste. Therese and St. Jerome
March 27-29 - Montreal
March 29 - Lachute, Montebello, Buckingham
March 30 - Hull (a.m.)
Ontario
March 30 - Ottawa Isabella street siding (p.m.)
A runaway horse and bread cart threatened the crowd lining up to view the exhibit.
March 31 -  Arnprior, Renfrew, Pembroke
Noranda
April 1 - North Bay Classes were dismissed at 11 o'clock in order to allow the staff and students an opportunity of visiting. The teachers and students went in a body to inspect the train during its three-hour stop at the C.P.R. station.
Manitoba
April 6 - Winnipeg (private showing)

Saskatchewan
April 7 - Canora
April 8 - Wadena
April 9 - Humboldt
April 10 - Saskatoon (a.m.), Biggar
Alberta
April 11 - Vermillion
April 12 - Vegreville
April 12 - Edmonton Canadian National station track No. 2(p.m.)
April 13 - Edmonton Canadian Pacific station, Wetaskiwin, Lacombe, Red Deer
April 14 - Stettler, Drumheller
April 15-16 - Calgary
British Columbia
April 17 - Revelstoke, (Three Valley), Sicamous, Kelowna
April 18 - Vernon, Kamloops
April 19 - Agassiz, New Westminster Canadian Pacific station
April 20 - Vancouver Canadian Pacific station
April 21 - Penticton
April 22 - Tadenac
April 23 - Nelson
April 24 - Cranbrook
April 25 - Fernie
Saskatchewan
April 27 - Swift Current
April 28 - Moose Jaw Canadian Pacific depot track 6, Assiniboia
April 29 - Shaunavon
April 30 - Weyburn, Estevan
April 31 - Indian Head, Wolseley, Grenfell, Broadview
May 1 - Regina, Moosomin

Ontario
May 8 - North Bay (p.m.), Sault Ste. Marie Canadian Pacific station
May 9 - Sudbury
May 10 - Ottawa Isabella street siding
Train moved to Hillside sidings in Westmount, Montreal to be dismantled





Return to Main Page of Railway Accidents

Updated 30 March 2023