Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1971, March 9 - Snow problems too much for train, CNR, Alexandria sub.

Ottawa Citizen 10 March 1971 Snowfall too much for train A Montreal-bound CNR passenger train was stuck for eight hours Tuesday in 10-foot snow drifts just east of the Quebec border. The train left Ottawa at 7.40 a.m. and finally completed its journey over CP Rail tracks after leaving Ottawa at 9 p.m. In attempts to free the train near De Beaujeu, Que., two engines were derailed. The seven-car train was finally freed and pulled back to Ottawa. Food for the estimated 100 passengers was put on at Alexandria. The train arrived in Ottawa at about 8 p.m. where most of the passengers left the train. Some passengers continued to Montreal. The stuck train forced the cancellation of two afternoon passenger trains to Montreal and the Superco-tinental was rerouted on CP Rail tracks. CN officials said the CP route through Bourget, Plantagenet and Vankleek Hill made the trains about an hour late. The CN track was to be cleared today for normal service. Ottawa Journal 10 March 1971 Drifts Stop Train, 100 Stranded Some 100 passengers that left Ottawa for Montreal Tuesday were stranded for eight hours as their seven-car train was bogged down in massive snowdrifts. But emergency units were sent out and the group was back at the station by 8 p.m. No one was injured and CNR officials said heat was kept on in the trains during the ordeal. The train hit snowdrifts near Coteau, Que., some 65 miles from Ottawa. Other trains going to Montreal 'were re-routed on Canadian Pacific lines. CNR officials expect to have the line cleared today. Food was brought out to the train in Alexandria. Caption to photo SNOWDRIFT SPECIAL CNR train No. 30 plowed into massive snowdrifts in a futile attempt to reach Montreal Tuesday. It became bogged down near Coteau, some 65 miles from here. No one was injured and emergency units were sent out to haul the cars back home. After being stranded eight hours, the 100 passengers returned home Tuesday evening. Some got aboard another train which took a Canadian Pacific line to Montreal. CN hoped to have its line cleared today. (Journal Photo by Dominion Wide)

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Updated 14 April 2020