A description of the accident can be found on numerous websites, a tragedy that many still live as a result of the loss of loved ones. It was the deadliest rail disaster in Canada since the Dugald accident of 1947, which had thirty-one fatalities, and was not surpassed until the Lac-Mgantic rail disaster in 2013, which resulted in 47 deaths. 5104), Seven bulkhead flat cars loaded with large pipes. Twenty-three people were killed in a collision between a Canadian National Railway freight train and a Via Rail passenger train called the Super Continental, including the engine crews of both trains. The three freight locomotives and the first 76 cars of the train were either destroyed or damaged. Only the inoperable Via Rail unit, FP9ARM 6300, was repaired after the collision. Hinton Train Disaster,Insufficent Blame Given To Track Protection.Had catch points been installed west of the signal witch we know was at red for the goods train,the said points would have been open thus protecting the main single track ahead, that is to say the goods train would have been derailed before reaching the main line. F9 Diesel locomotive number 6633. 413 consisted of three locomotives, The story of the disaster was featured on the third season of Canadian National Geographic Channel show Mayday (known as Air Emergency in the US, Mayday in Ireland and Air Crash Investigation in the UK and the rest of world). Why the Canadian . In Brief: Court, CN derailment, PJ Day activities, Group adds life-saving skills to snow education. Had the Super Continental been even a minute early, it would have been past the switch at this point, but it was not. As an example of this disregard of safety, it was noted that the crew of that train had boarded the locomotive at Edson "on the fly." A commission of inquiry investigated the crash. In the caboose was conductor Wayne "Smitty" Smith, aged 33.c. Baggage -Dormitory 617. As the train approached this signal, it was already going full throttle at 59 miles per hour (96 km/h), faster than the 50 mile per hour limit on this stretch of track. 4 train, the combined Super Continental and Skeena, was travelling from Jasper east to Edmonton on its transcontinental journey. It was surmised that the accident was a result of the crew of the freight train becoming incapacitated, and the resulting investigations revealed serious flaws in CN's employee practices. This train collision has somewhat haunted me since I saw a special on it on TV a while back. You didnt know what was going on, but theres always hope that it wasnt as bad as you thought and everybody would survive, but she said trailing off. Even if Smith's testimony was true, he apparently did not consider the problem sufficiently serious to stop the train, a second misjudgment. It would be expensive to modify the terrain to make signals at the front visible from the rear. Traffic on this line was controlled with Centralized Traffic Control (CTC). Derailed in Canada - a compilation of a series of serious train wrecks in Canada over the past couple of years.. MCH 259 COUNTING TRAIN CARS HOW MANY DO YOU SEE. It was led by Justice Ren P. Foisy, then of Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (subsequently of the Court of Appeal of Alberta). In the caboose was conductor Wayne "Smitty" Smith, aged 33. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. [5] On the lead locomotive were engineer John Edward "Jack" Hudson, aged 48, and brakeman Mark Edwards, aged 25. The other weekend, when Han and I were in Alberta, we stayed for a night in Hinton, Alberta. 413 consisted of three locomotives, EMD GP38-2W number 5586, and 2 EMD SD40 numbers 5104 and 5062, followed by a high-speed spreader, 35 cylindrical hoppers loaded with grain, 7 bulkhead flat cars loaded with large pipes, 45 hoppers loaded with sulphur, 20 loaded tank cars, 6 more grain cars, and a caboose; a total consist of 3 locomotives and 115 cars. 5586, and two EMD SD40 numbers 5062 and In a bid to get answers and help the inquiry, Shevalier and her siblings put together an open letter urging CN employees to come forward with any information they might have. It left on time, five minutes later, at 8:25 am. 5104), Seven bulkhead flat cars loaded with large pipes. The fuel tanks of one of the locomotives exploded into flames on impact. After the rear of the freight train came to a halt, Conductor Smith, still in the caboose, attempted to contact the front of the train before contacting emergency services after seeing the fire. Cause. Lamps in the signals use as little as 10 Watts, and would not be easy to see in daylight at a distance of 1,866 meters, the length of the train and even if the track were straight and there were no hills in the way. Seconds after the freight jumped the switch, at 8:40 am, the two trains collided.[2]. Had the sulphur cars, for instance, been at the front of the train, the death toll might have been higher. The mid train locomotive (6300) was severely damaged (It was repaired with a new cab section from a KCS EMD F7). As the conductor is in charge of the train, had Smith felt that the train was out of control or there were serious problems, he should have pulled the brake cord in the caboose to stop the train. This switch setting would have caused the freight train to see signals indicating a stop. This rule would appear to date from times when trains were much shorter than they are now. As the freight train reached Hargwen, Hudson radioed back to Smith that the signals were green, a communication that was heard by a following freight. In the front locomotive were engineer John Edward (Jack) Hudson, aged 48, and brakeman Mark Edwards, aged 25. Being injured in a serious accident is always a shocking and scary experience, and dealing with the aftermath is exhausting and stressful. However, many engineers found this tiresome and bypassed the pedal by placing a heavy weight on it. Slightly over half of the 100-mile (160km) stretch of track between Jasper and Edson was double-tracked, including 11.2 miles (18.0km) of trackage from Hargwen control point west to Dalehurst control point. It left on time, five minutes later, at 8:25 am. 'It appears that the great majority of the (bodies) are in one passenger cabin that is burned completely gutted,' he said. Today its the Aniversery of the Hinton Alberta Train Crash." Sticks: "Jeepers!" Tails: "Nick, Tell us the story." Nick: "Well, the crash occurred on February 8, 1986. in a area called Dalehurst, Alberta. To commemorate the tragic event and remember those who lost their lives, a plaque was unveiled outside the Hinton Museum Monday, exactly 30 years from the day of the accident. [1], The freight train left Edson at 6:40 am, and took the siding at Medicine Lodge to allow two eastbound trains to pass. Highway Patrol said the driver, Wayne Keith Smith, Jr., 38, of Campobello, was fleeing from Polk County deputies when the vehicle ran off the left side of the road and struck a tree. The others were able to escape either through a broken window in the dome or through the hole left by the freight car. February 1986: A collision between a Via rail passenger train and a CN freight train kills 23 people and injures 95 near Hinton, Alta., west of Edmonton. 6/14/2020: 1 million views! The crash investigation found that the freight train was traveling at 59mph (95km/h) as it passed the approach signal9mph (14km/h) over the 50mph (80km/h) speed limit. 1986 railway accident near Hinton, Alberta, Canada, Sleeping car fitted with 4 sections, 8 duplex roomettes and 4 double bedrooms, "Head-On Collision" (Also "Train Collision" and "Impact on the Rails. As it ran towards Dalehurst there was no evidence of further communication. Template:Unreferenced section The suspicion was that Smith had neglected his duties by sitting at the more comfortable desk seat instead of in the cupola of the caboose, where he should have been and where he would have a clear view of the track and the signals. On the morning of February 8, 1986, Via Rail 's No. The collision occurred 250 feet from a switch where a double track merges into one. As the conductor is in charge of the train, had Smith felt that the train was out of control or there were serious problems, he should have pulled the brake cord in the caboose to stop the train. A more advanced safety device was available, the Reset Safety Control (RSC), required crew members to take an action such as pushing a button at regular intervals, or else automatic braking would occur, but neither lead locomotive was equipped with this safety feature. The Commission finds that both the policies and procedures that permitted a man in Hudson's medical state to be responsible for the operation of a freight train on the CN main line to be unacceptable.[2]. However, signals controlled by track circuits change to red as soon as the front of the train passes the signal, so that anyone in the caboose will mostly see only red signals. VILNIUS, Lithuania, March 20 (UPI) -- Military conscription returns to Lithuania amid Eastern Europe's military tension. Canadian Transport Minister Don Mazankowski, who ordered an investigation, toured the scene Sunday with CNR officials. Nearby towns are Jasper to the west and Edson to the east. [7], The freight train proceeded past the Dalehurst control point, running through the switch and into the section of single track. It was devastating, recalled Shevalier. Both lead locomotives were destroyed, killing their crews. ive made that drive stone cold drunk in the middle of winter more times than i can confess to my parents! | Photo courtesy of the Hinton Coal Branch Archives Hinton Train Crash Collection (Hinton General Hospital). The inquiry eventually concluded that the CN employees ignored signals to stop and failed to follow established railway operating rules. It also condemned CNs railroader culture that ignored safety regulations, which were beefed up in the aftermath of the crash. While the second locomotive in the freight train was equipped with RSC, it was not assigned as the lead locomotive because it lacked a comfort cab. Twenty-three people were killed in a collision between a Canadian National Railway freight train and a Via Rail passenger train called the Super Continental, including the engine crews of both trains. The freight train crew did not stop at a red railway signal on a section of a passing loop. Instead of condemning any one individual, it instead condemned what Foisy described as a "railroader culture" that prized loyalty and productivity at the expense of safety. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. But Shevalier said the ceremony suddenly turned political when it came time for Rosendahl's remarks. A CN freight train travelling at 96 km/h at the time of impact, ran head-on with a VIA Rail passenger train, leaving 23 dead and 95 people injured. Wikipedia also ha information with respect to the crash. It was the most lethal Canadian rail disaster since the Dugald accident of 1947. The Hinton train collision was a railway accident that occurred at 8:40 am on February 8, 1986. He also testified that he attempted to radio Hudson on two radios and several channels, but neither seemed to be working, despite the fact that immediately after the crash Smith was able to contact the dispatcher by radio. It was uncertain whether the pedal had been bypassed in this case because the lead locomotive of the train had been destroyed. Wayne Smith's life is a testament to the human spirit and . The report also noted that although the front-end and rear-end crews should have been in regular communication, that did not appear to be the case in this accident. It was surmised that the accident was a result of the crew of the freight train becoming incapacitated, and the resulting investigations revealed serious flaws in CN's employee practices. I can only imagine how the image of that boy would haunt him forever. The observation dome car behind the day coach suffered serious damage, and was also hit by a freight car, which was thrown into the air by the force of the collision. It was uncertain whether the pedal had been bypassed in this case because the lead locomotive of the train had been destroyed. [5], Canadian National Railway's westbound train No. The others were able to escape either through a broken window in the dome or through the hole left by the freight car. [1] At 8:29am, as the Super Continental approached the start of the double track section, the dispatcher from the CTC lined the dual-control switch at Dalehurst to the south track. you know that you were only three hours west of edmonton, right? It was a bit of a hick town indeed. There were no deaths in these cars, but there were several injuries. As the train approached this signal, it was already going full throttle at 59 miles per hour (96 km/h), faster than the 50 mile per hour limit on this stretch of track. The three freight locomotives and the first 76 cars of the train were either destroyed or damaged. In the dome car, others were able to escape either through a window in the dome that had been broken by passengers, or through the hole left by the freight car. As the accident unfolded, the cars on the freight train piled up on each other, resulting in a large pile of rolling stock. Thank you so much for getting one of my personal favorite videos to this many views!A documentary some people have been waiting f. Tall wagons would also degrade visibility, even from the cupola of a caboose. Two men arrested in Hinton arson, homicide. Traffic on this line was controlled with Centralized Traffic Control (CTC). A more useful variation of this rule would be like at the 2008 Chatsworth train collision for the engineer to tell the conductor about the aspect of the signal by radio. However, since the head-end crew of the freight train did not survive, it was not clear why they had erred. ", "We were just totally angry," she said. One of its occupants was killed. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Via Rail's No. Officials first estimated the death toll as high as 50. The first seven units had originated in Vancouver, and the next six units had originated in Prince Rupert. On the caboose, conductor Wayne "Smitty" Smith, aged 33.[6]. However, Smith, who appeared to be nervous while testifying, said that he did not feel that the freight was ever out of control, misjudging its speed. However, Smith, who appeared to be nervous while testifying, said that he did not feel that the freight was ever out of control, misjudging its velocity. 4, some 11 miles east of Hinton, Alberta. The two sleepers following the dome car jackknifed into each other and were thrown on their sides causing injuries but no deaths. Further west, there was a three-light signal, 490 feet (150 meters) east of the switch at Dalehurst that showed three solid red lamps, indicating a stop. 4 train, the combined Super Continental and Skeena, was travelling from Jasper east to Edmonton on its transcontinental journey. Comments made in the speech,"in no way should be taken as a lack of respect for the survivors or the victims of the 1986 crash,"the statement said. For example, the operators of the train only had a few hours of sleep the night before as a result of the shifts they were assigned, so they were likely very tired the morning of the train accident. After a thorough investigation of the accident, it was revealed that there were safety measures that were frequently bypassed by CN employees, and this was simply part of the culture. Not only did we want answers, but we wanted to stop this from ever happening again, she said. His daughter, Wendy Shevalier, attended the ceremony and said she was outraged by the speech delivered on behalf of West Yellowhead MLA Eric Rosendahl. The inquiry report was published on January 22, 1987. Watch Survivors Episode 8 Hinton Train 1986 on Bad Day HQSupport us http://www.patreon.com/baddayhq The Hinton train collision was a railway accident that oc. 'There are 29 people missing as of this moment,' Pounder said, adding the victims were presumed dead. One of its occupants was killed. The Hinton train collision. Glitches delay start of Florida recount for senator, governor. The medical examiner said 22 of the missing were passengers on the passenger train and five were crew members. The inquiry lasted 56 days of public hearings and received evidence from 150 parties. The report also noted that although the front-end and rear-end crews should have been in regular communication, that did not appear to be the case in this accident. Includes the ability to log visits, view logs, save and filter offline Waymarks and use beautiful offline maps! Further west, there was a three-light signal, 490 feet (150 meters) east of the switch at Dalehurst that showed three solid red lamps, indicating a stop. A more advanced safety device was available, the Reset Safety Control (RSC), required crew members to take an action such as pushing a button at regular intervals, or else automatic braking would occur, but neither lead locomotive was equipped with this safety feature. Another frequently ignored safety regulation mentioned in the report was the "deadman's pedal," which a locomotive engineer had to keep depressed. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Management claimed to be unaware of this practice, even though it was quite common. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. A government MLA is being criticized for political grandstanding at a memorial ceremony held in Hinton this week for the victims of one of Canadas worst train crashes. Combined Super Continental and Skeena, was travelling from Jasper east to Edmonton on its journey... ], Canadian National railway 's wayne smith hinton train crash train no Canadian Rail disaster since the head-end of. That the CN employees ignored signals to stop and failed to follow established operating. Cars of the page across from the rear the others were able to escape either through a window. Scary experience, and the first 76 cars of the train had been destroyed Press International, All! For instance, been at the top of the crash drunk in the dome car jackknifed into each and! 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