Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area
1963 April 11 - three locomotives and 27 cars derailed when a CN train hits a bread truck at Portage du Fort, Beachburg subdivision.
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PORTAGE
DU FORT --
'Police and railway officials describe the situation as dangerous. 'Three cars of gas were among 27 cars derailed when a westbound CNR freight and a transport trailer truck crashed near the station here. Portage du Fort is 65 miles northwest of Ottawa. 'Only
takes a spark
'Some
200 spectators have
been forced back by police who are attempting to cordon off
the
area. There is no immediate danger to Portage du Fort, a mile
and
a half away.
'However,
an offical
said: "It only takes a spark to set it off."
'The
train was also
carrying explosives as well as the gas, but there was no fire or
explosion despite the fact all the derailed cars were strewn on both
sides of the track, some completely overturned and others left
balancing on their ends. Three diesel engines were thrown on
their sides.
'Three
in hospital
'Three
of the train crew,
engineers Bill Callan and Edward Rock, both of Ottawa, and a brakeman,
Raymond V. Markle, 45, of 108 Minnetonka Road, Ottawa, were injured and
are in Pontiac Community Hospital in Shawville.
'None
of the injuries are
reported as serious.
'Driver
of the
tractor-trailer truck, Rosaire Cantin, 45, of 2648 Clarenda Street,.
Ottawa, escaped unharmed. The truck's trailer was sliced into
six
pieces.
'Owned
by
Morrison-Lamothe bakery, the transport was hauling 800 loaves of bread
which were strewn over a wide area.
'The
freight train was
also loaded with heavy construction equipment. including iron pipes and
chemical tanks.
'For
a time, railway and
police officials feared for a large crowd that had garhered at the
scene. "One spark and the whole thing would have gone up."
one
workman said.
'The
crowd was pushed
back and the dangerous cars isolated.
'The
accident happaned at
7:30 a.m. as the northbound truck headed along the Portage-Bryson
highway. The train was westbound.
'The
conductor, Ernest
Beddington, 38, of 98 Nicolet Street, Hull, riding in the caboose, was
not injured.
'Two
of the four men
involved in the wreck have been released from Pontiac
Community Hospital.
'Still
hospitalized are
Bill Callan, 53-year-old chief engineer who lives at 44 Havelock
Street, Ottawa, and fireman Eddy Rock, 52 of 66 St. Francis Street,
Ottawa.
'Mr. Callan, who may have a fractured
thumb, said the
train was travelling about 49 m.p.h. when it struck the truck.
He
said that he saw a flash ahead (probably the aluminum trailer) and hit
the emergency brake.
''"It's a peculiar feeling when you know
you are going
somewhere, but don't know where you will end up. I thought my
fireman was dead when I was him. He and the brakeman were
lying
right on top of me after the train turned over on its
side.
'Railway
line cleared
'The main line of the Canadian National Railway at Portage du Fort, 35 miles southeast of Pembroke, opened again for normal traffic at noon FRIDAY. 'Work
crews and security
guards were kept busy thoughout the day and night THURSDAY to
clear 27 freight cars and three diesel engines off the right-of-way
after one of the most spectacular level crossing accidents in the
area's history.
'A
westbound CNR freight
was derailed about 7:30 a.m. Thursday, in a collision with a
Morrison-Lamothe tractor-trailer.
'Engineer
William Callan of
Ottawa has been dischared from the Pontiac Community Hospital in
Shawville after X-rays showed no serious injury. Fireman
Edmond
Rock, also of Ottawa, is to be dischared Monday. He suffered
multiple bruises.From the Ottawa Journal Thursday 11 April 1963 FREIGHT HITSTRUCK Ottawa Crew Hurt In Derailment PORTAGE DU PORT A fast Canadian National Railway freight was derailed here this morning after hitting a transport-trailer unit at a level crossing. Two men were injured. The truck driver, 38-year-old Ross Cantin, 2648 Clarenda Street, Ottawa, was left sitting safely behind the steering wheel when the 96-car freight sheared off the trailer unit and scattered it for a distance of 500 feet along the tracks. Three diesel units rolled over, injuring engineer Bill Cullen and fireman Ed Rock, both of Ottawa. They are in Shawvllle Hospital not seriously hurt. Thirty thousand gallons of naptha gas spilled along the right of way which was cordoned off by Quebec Provincial Police. Bits of the truck body were spread throughout the wreckage of 27 freight cars which piled up behind the ditched diesels. CNR auxiliary equipment was brought here from Ottawa and Capreol to clear the lines. The wreckage is blockings the main road between here and Campbell's Bay, 12 miles west on Highway 8. Mr. Cantin is a driver for Morrison-Lamothe. The truck was loaded with empty metal bread baskets) which were strewn along the highway. Other crew members on the train were: conductor Ernest Beddlngton,'94 Nicolet Street, Hull, brakemen Raymond Markle, 1089 Minnetonka Road, and Dennis O'Connell. 1219 Kitchener Avenue, both of Ottawa From the Ottawa Citizen 13 April 1963 Railway line cleared PORTAGE DU FORT (Special) . The main line of the Canadian National Railway at Portage du Fort, 35 miles southeast of Pembroke, opened again for normal traffic at noon Friday. Work crews and security guards were kept busy throughout the day and night Thursday to clear 27 freight cars and three diesel engines off the right of way after one of the most spectacular level crossing accidents in this area's history. A westbound CNR freight was derailed about 7.30 a.m., Thursday, in a collision with a Morrison-Lamothe tractor-trailer. Engineer William Callan of Ottawa has been discharged from the Pontiac Community Hospital at Shawville after X- rays showed no serious injury. Fireman Edmund Rock, also of Ottawa, is to be discharged Monday; he suffered multiple bruises. |
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Updated 11 February 2019