Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1981, February 10 - CN train 214 derails 19 cars at Bristol, QC., CNR., Beachburg sub.

Branchline February 1981 CN Hot Shot Piggyback Freight Derails at Bristol Quebec. On the evening of February 10th 19 cars of CN's train No 214 and eastbound piggyback freight jumped the track at the east switch at Bristol Quebec. 9 cars rolled over into the ditch while 10 left the track and remainded uplight. According to reports in the news, the cause of the accident was a broken axle. Clean - up operatons took a couple of days and as a result CN rerooted their trains by CP Rail using theCchalk River sub. from Pembroke to Carleton Place and then the Carleton Place sub. to Ottawa (Nepean Junction.). The Carleton Place sub. normally sees only trains #1 and #2 (The Canadian) so it was a busy two days. On Wednesday we observed at least five trains as well as the two passenger trains - one at 6:00 a.m. (westbound), one at 10:00 a.m. also westbound with grain cars, one at 2:10 p.m. heading east, another at 6:40 eastbound and another at 9:45 eastbound (likely train #214). Work trains were dispatched from Capreol and Ottawa (extra #9405 and #2523 respectively).#2523 left Ottawa early in the morning with two cars of panel track brought in from Capreol to replace the damaged section of track. During the cleanup operation an operator was stationed at Bristol. * times are at Kanata Eagleson Road ) B. Ballantyne

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Updated 11 June 2020