Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1959, May 20 - 30 cars derail in a Canadian National freight train at Dunrobin, Beachburg subdivision.

From the Ottawa Citizen 20 May 1959 30 loaded cars of a 68-car CNR freight train were derailed this morning near Dunrobin, about 20 miles west of Ottawa on the main line of the railway. No one was injured in the derailment which accurred at about 10 o'clock as the freight headed towards Ottawa between Dunrobin and Malwood (near the Constance Bay Road crossing). Railway officials arranged to have traffic re-routed over CPR trackage until the line has been cleared, and the reason for the derailment found. The freight was made up of 50 loaded cars and 18 empties. From the Ottawa Journal 20 May 1959 Train Derailed The main line of the CNR was tied up this morning when 20 cars of a 68-car freight train were derailed at Dunrobin, 25 miles west of Ottawa. There were no injuries. Railway investigators are attempting to determine how the cars, in the middle of the train, were thrown off the track. They were all loaded and pulled by a three-unit diesel engine. The derailment occurred at 6.30 a.m. and railway officials said the line should be cleared late this evening or Thursday morning. Caption to Picture CNR work crews. laboring since 10 a.m. yesterday, to clear the wreckage of this spectacular pile-up near Dunrobin Ont. - about 20 miles west of Ottawa - expect to have the mangled 1,800 feet of track replaced and debris cleaned up by late this afternoon.  Nobody was injured in the derailment but damage will run to many thousands of dollars, CNR officials say. The 68-car freight running east from Capreol Ont. to Ottawa on the CNR main line  appeared to break in half atop a slight embankment and 32 broken cars spewed grain, bags of flour, lumber and pulp wood over the countryside. Until order  is restored, the 4 regular passenger and 4 freight trains using the line daily will be re-routed on to CPR tracks. From the Ottawa Citizen 21 May 1959 Derailment at Dunrobin. - 32 cars leave line. (with picture) CNR work crews, laboring since 10 a.m. yesterday to clear  the wreckage of this spectacular pile-up near Dunrobin, Ont. - about 20 miles west of Ottawa, expect to have the mangled 1,800 feet of track replaced and debris cleaned by late this afternoon.    Nobody was injured in the derailment but damage will run to manv thousands of dollars, CNR officials  say.  The 68-car freight running east from Capreol, Ont., to Ottawa on the CNR main line, appeared to break in half atop a slight embankment and 32 broken cars spewed grain, bags of flour, lumber and pulp wood over the countryside. Until order is restored, the four regular passenger and four freight trains using the line daily will be re-routed on to CPR tracks.

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Updated  4 January 2020