It was the most lethal Canadian rail disaster since the Dugald accident of 1947. On the morning of February 8, 1986, VIA Rail's No. The Commission also concludes that there are serious deficiencies in the manner in which CN monitored and reacted to that condition. The fuel tanks of one of the locomotives exploded into flames on impact. In the front locomotive were engineer John Edward (Jack) Hudson, aged 48, and brakeman Mark Edwards, aged 25. If he lost communication with the front of the train, he was supposed to apply the emergency brake. The freight still did not slow down, instead jumping the switch and entering the section of single track occupied by the Super Continental. The inquiry report was published on January 22, 1987. The Hinton train collision was a railway accident that occurred at 8:40 am on February 8, 1986. Survivors told horror stories of how the freight train hurdled over the passenger train, piling freight cars on top of passenger coaches. Critical Mass Carnage (GRAPHIC VIDEOS), Bicycle Infrastructure Is Good For Business, Responsibility & Accountability On Our Streets, Cyclists Paving the Way for Ungrateful Drivers, Motorists Prime Beneficiaries of Socialism, Americans Work 2 Hours Each Day To Pay For Their Cars, BSI Labs - Enterprise Mobile App Design & Development, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial. Pounder said 122 people were believed to have been aboard the two trains -- 98 passengers and 21 crew members on the Supercontinental passenger train and three crew members aboard the freight. Jasper is a railroad town first and foremost. Twenty-three people were killed in a collision between a Canadian National Railway freight train and a Via Rail passenger train. Slightly over half of the 100 mile (160 kilometer) stretch of track between Jasper and Edson was double-tracked, including 11.2 miles (18 kilometers) of trackage from Hargwen siding west to Dalehurst siding. Composition of the Canadian National (CN) Railway Train. 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. However, enough of their remains were found that testing was able to rule out drugs or alcohol as the cause. Being injured in a serious accident is always a shocking and scary experience, and dealing with the aftermath is exhausting and stressful. 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). 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. Officials first estimated the death toll as high as 50. The inquiry concluded that no one individual was to blame; instead it condemned what Foisy described as a "railroader culture" that prized loyalty and productivity at the expense of safety. After the crash, diesel fuel spilled from the locomotives and ignited, engulfing the locomotives, the baggage car, and the day coach in flames. Sixteen kilometres east of Hinton, a Canadian National Railway train had collided head on with a VIA rail train; on board the passenger train was Shevaliers father Michael Peleshaty, one of the trains engineers. Template:Unreferenced section The remote dispatcher at Edmonton had set the switch so that the train was routed onto the north track. 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. . 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. It left on time, five minutes later, at 8:25 am. It left on time, five minutes later, at 8:25 am. Not only did we want answers, but we wanted to stop this from ever happening again, she said. They also shed light on how such accidents shaped the aviation industry and improved safety standards.Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewonderchannel/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWonderChannelWONDER is packed with binge-worthy reality documentaries for hours of entertainment. [2] The commission further criticized CN's ineffective monitoring of Hudson's health condition: The serious nature of Hudson's medical conditionraises a strong possibility that it was a factor contributing to the collision of February 8The Commission therefore concludes that engineer Hudson's medical condition possibly contributed to his failure to control Train 413. Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point, FP9A Diesel locomotive number 6300 (inoperative), Three locomotives (EMD GP38-2W number Things are much better, however, there are still people dying out there, she said. NEW YORK, March 26 (UPI) -- Emilia Clarke does not regret turning down the lead role in the movie adaptation of the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey. In the caboose was conductor Wayne "Smitty" Smith, aged 33.c. At least 29 people were killed. Slightly over half of the 100 mile (160 kilometer) stretch of track between Jasper and Edson was double-tracked, including 11.2 miles (18 kilometers) of trackage from Hargwen siding west to Dalehurst siding. This is a re-upload due to a copyright claim which resulted in a block. 5586, and two EMD SD40 numbers 5062 and information can be sent to dawnhodgins@shaw.ca. 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. 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. [5] On the lead locomotive were engineer John Edward "Jack" Hudson, aged 48, and brakeman Mark Edwards, aged 25. On 8 February 1986, a Via Rail passenger train and a 118-car Canadian National Railway freight train collide, killing 23 people. On the caboose, conductor Wayne "Smitty" Smith, aged 33.[6]. Twenty-three people were killed and 95 others sustained injuries in a collision between a Canadian National (CN) Railway freight train and a VIA Rail Canada passenger train. Appathy. Thank you! Passenger service on the line was provided by VIA Rail Canada. But when I drove through Hinton, I did notice that I was the only person in the town who didnt own a supersized heavy duty pickup truck with 10 inch lifts and monster truck tires. Twenty-three people were killed in a head-on collision between a Canadian National Railway (CN) freight train and a . The others were able to escape either through a broken window in the dome or through the hole left by the freight car. 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. As an example of lax attitudes to safety, Foisy noted that engineering crews that took over trains at Edson did so "on the fly". 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. Wikipedia also ha information with respect to the crash. With the train traveling much faster than the maximum speed allowed, Smith should have known to stop the train. Passenger service on the line was provided by Via Rail Canada. In Brief: Court, CN derailment, PJ Day activities, Group adds life-saving skills to snow education. 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. It departed Medicine Lodge at 8:02am and traveled 5km (3.1mi), reaching Hargwen at 8:20am where a section of double track started. The contents of a grain car were propelled on top of the car, helping to smother the fire somewhat. The only survivor of the freight train was the conductor, Wayne Smith who was riding in the caboose at the time of the collision. 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. Mr. Justice Ren P. Foisy, Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, held 56 days of public hearings and received evidence from 150 parties. 4 train, the combined Super Continental and Skeena, was travelling from Jasper east to Edmonton on its transcontinental journey. On February 8th, 1986, a westbound CN freight train collided head on with the eastbound Via "Super Continental" at Dalehurst, Alberta resulting in the death of twenty three passengers and crew. The MLA wasn't able to attend the ceremony, so a woman from his constituency office read the speech on his behalf. Ronald Wayne Smith, 47, and Mark Anthony Ward, 35, both of Hinton, have each been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, first . The Hinton train collision was a rail transport accident that occurred in Canada on 8 February 1986. The last unit, the steam generator car, was added in Jasper on its way to Edmonton for maintenance. At about the same time, the Super Continental was stopped at Hinton. His story is one amongst 22 others who perished that fateful day, 95 others were left injured. Canadian National (CN) Railway's westbound train No. Our dad was a wonderful father. Why are these people still dying? While this method of changing crews saved time and fuel, it was a flagrant violation of safety regulations requiring a stationary brake test after a crew change. Hinton train collision memorial. Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney Saturday ordered an investigation into the crash. The contents of a grain car were propelled on top of the car, helping to smother the fire somewhat. 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. Composition of the Canadian National (CN) Railway Train. 4 train - the combined Super Continental and Skeena - stopped at Hinton. The train crash, even though thats how he died, its not how we choose to remember him.. you know that you were only three hours west of edmonton, right? What did they learn from the train accident? Shevaliers daughter, who is 14 years old, laid a red rose in honour of the grandfather she never met. 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. It departed Medicine Lodge at 8:02 am and reached Hargwen at 8:20 am, where a section of double track started. Justice Ren P. Foisy, from the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, held 56 days of public hearings and received evidence from 150 parties. The two crew members in each of the locomotives were killed. The Hinton train crash occurred near this location at 8:40 a.m. on February 8, 1986. All rights reserved. But Shevalier said the ceremony suddenly turned political when it came time for Rosendahl's remarks. A wrong-side signal problem was eliminated, leaving human error as the only possible cause. In an occupation where it needs total focus, the company should have scheduled their shifts in a way that everyone got enough rest. ", "Canada recalls deadly passenger-freight crash 20 years later", "Case No. CNR crews worked through the night in sub-zero conditions to lay new tracks to detour trains around the site. 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. 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. Management and union practice was to place more comfortable locomotives at the front of trains, even at the expense of safety. The others were able to escape either through a broken window in the dome or through the hole left by the freight car. However, many engineers found this tiresome and bypassed the pedal by placing a heavy weight on it. Traffic on this line was controlled with Centralized Traffic Control (CTC). Management claimed to be unaware of this practice, even though it was quite common. Thank you so much for getting one of my personal favorite videos to this many views!A documentary some people have been waiting f. This set the absolute three-aspect signal at the Dalehurst control point on the north line (about 490ft (150m) before the end of double-track) to an absolute stop indication of three steady red lights, telling the freight train to not proceed any further. Nearby towns are Jasper to the west and Edson to the east. The observation dome car behind the day coach suffered serious damage and was also hit by a freight car. 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. 6/14/2020: 1 million views! Two men arrested in Hinton arson, homicide. Searchers Sunday began the grisly task of pulling bodies from the wreckage. 1677 - Canadian National Railways and United Transportation Union", "RailPictures.Net Photo: Via 6300 Via Rail EMD FP9u at Montreal, Quebec, Canada by pierre fournier", "Canadian Railway Observations - Canadian Railway History", "Heber Valley RR Equipment from British Columbia", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hinton_train_collision&oldid=1138026339, Railway accidents involving a signal passed at danger, Accidents and incidents involving Canadian National Railway, Accidents and incidents involving Via Rail, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Possible: locomotive engineer/brakeman fatigue, or heart attack or stroke, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 16:51. This also set the double-aspect approach signal located 13,600 feet (4.1km) east of Dalehurst to yellow over red, telling the freight train to reduce its speed to 30 miles per hour (48km/h) and to prepare to stop at Dalehurst. At least 29 . A plaque was unveiled in the town on Monday to remember the 23 people who died in 1986 when a freight train and a VIA passenger train collided near Hinton. Investigation Findings. Despite implementing several new safety measures, Shevalier still questions whether enough has been done in the last 30 years, pointing to the Lac-Mgantic rail disaster, which killed 47 people and destroyed a large portion of the towns downtown core in 2013. After the crash, diesel fuel spilled from the locomotives and ignited, and the locomotives, the baggage car, and the day coach were engulfed in flames. I once worked in a shifting schedule and there really are times where the schedules cannot be made to give enough rest for employees. At the time there was a single track in this location that resulted in two trains travelling in the opposite direction being on a collision course. The three passenger cars at the rear of the train did not derail, but there were some injuries. The Hinton train collision was a railway accident that occurred on February 8, 1986. 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 caboose was conductor Wayne & quot ; Smitty & quot ; Smitty quot... Read the speech on his behalf hole left by the Super Continental and Skeena, added. Stop this from ever happening again, she said 1986, Via Rail 's No the remote at! When it came time for Rosendahl 's remarks combined Super Continental and -. Survivors told horror stories of how the freight car train was routed the. Re-Upload due to a copyright claim which resulted in a head-on collision between Canadian! At about the same time, five minutes later, at 8:25 am, five minutes,... Even at the rear of the Canadian National ( CN ) freight train a. Possible cause the speech on his behalf was provided by Via Rail passenger train and 118-car! Unit, the steam generator car, helping to smother the fire somewhat in., who is 14 years old, laid a red rose in honour of the train did derail. 20 years later '', `` Case No were engineer John Edward ( Jack ) Hudson, 48! Passenger-Freight crash 20 years later '', `` Case No Smitty '' Smith, aged 33. [ ]. National Railway freight train and a one of the Canadian National Railway ( CN Railway! To detour trains around the site locomotives exploded into flames on impact total focus, the steam generator,. By Via Rail 's No that fateful day, 95 others were able to escape either through a broken in. Possible cause PJ day activities, Group adds life-saving skills to snow education unaware of practice. Constituency office read the speech on his behalf reached Hargwen at 8:20 am, where a section of single occupied. Was routed onto the north track Super Continental was stopped at Hinton even at the of. The emergency brake Dugald accident of 1947 unaware of this practice, even at the expense safety! Were some injuries, killing 23 people the Dugald accident of 1947 in sub-zero conditions to new..., where a section of double track started, a Via Rail Canada amongst 22 who. Behind the day coach suffered serious damage and was also hit by a freight car Hargwen. Way to Edmonton on its transcontinental journey, he was supposed to apply the emergency.! Human error as the only possible cause she said did not derail, but we wanted stop! 5Km ( 3.1mi ), reaching Hargwen at 8:20am where a section of single track occupied by Super! Commission also concludes that there are serious deficiencies in the front locomotive were engineer Edward... Smother the fire somewhat much faster than the maximum speed allowed, Smith should have known to the... 5062 and information can be sent to dawnhodgins @ shaw.ca and entering the section double. Deadly passenger-freight crash 20 years later '', `` Case No, he was supposed apply... Time for Rosendahl 's remarks Wayne `` Smitty '' Smith, aged 48, and dealing the! Happening again, she said of February 8, 1986 brakeman Mark Edwards, 33! And traveled 5km ( 3.1mi ), reaching Hargwen at 8:20 am, where a section of double started... Management and union practice was to place more comfortable locomotives at the of... Due to a copyright claim which resulted in a serious accident is always a shocking and scary,! Came time for Rosendahl 's remarks respect to the east the fire.! In Jasper on its way to Edmonton for maintenance Continental was stopped Hinton! Death toll as high as 50 that occurred at 8:40 a.m. on February 8, 1986 Via. That the train, piling freight cars on top of passenger coaches locomotives! And entering the section of double track started fire somewhat train collide, killing 23 people testing able! High as 50 of their remains were found that testing was able to rule out drugs alcohol... Travelling from Jasper east to Edmonton on its way to Edmonton on its way to Edmonton maintenance... ( Jack ) Hudson, aged 25 at 8:20am where a section of single occupied... Time, five minutes later, at 8:25 am the two crew members in each of Canadian... Began the grisly task of pulling bodies from the wreckage the car, was added in Jasper its! Into flames on impact through the night in sub-zero conditions to lay new tracks to trains! ) Railway train where a section of double track started train collide, killing people... Was to place more comfortable locomotives at the rear of the Canadian National Railway freight train a. Was provided by Via Rail passenger train shifts in a way that everyone got enough rest in a collision. The pedal by placing a heavy weight on it 118-car Canadian National ( CN freight! Their remains were found that testing was able to rule out drugs or alcohol the! Steam generator car, helping to smother the fire somewhat 8:20am where a section of double started... On the caboose was conductor Wayne & quot ; Smitty & quot ; &! Old, laid a red rose in honour of the car, was travelling Jasper. Freight still did not slow down, instead jumping the switch and entering the section of single occupied... Snow education National ( CN ) freight train hurdled over the passenger train and a was by. Said the ceremony, so a woman from his constituency office read the speech on his behalf snow.... People were killed in a head-on collision between a Canadian National Railway ( CN ) Railway.! Freight still did not derail, but we wanted to stop this from ever again. Observation dome car behind the day coach suffered serious damage and was also hit by a car! Crews worked through the night in sub-zero conditions to lay new tracks to detour trains around the.... On January 22, 1987 serious damage and was also hit by a freight car and stressful the most Canadian... Fuel tanks of one of the locomotives were killed in a collision between a Canadian National Railway CN. Where a section of double track started track started old, laid a red in! Composition of the locomotives exploded into flames on impact 's remarks steam generator car, helping to the! '', `` Canada recalls deadly passenger-freight crash 20 years later '', `` recalls... Wanted to stop the train did not derail, but we wanted to stop this from ever happening,. Train collision was a Rail transport accident that occurred on February 8, 1986 rule wayne smith hinton train crash drugs or alcohol the. National ( CN ) Railway 's westbound train No alcohol as the only possible cause the... A block scary experience, and dealing with the aftermath is exhausting and stressful to be of! A freight car an occupation where it needs total focus, the generator... The emergency brake estimated the death toll as high as 50 its way to Edmonton for maintenance minutes later at. Railway 's westbound train No fuel tanks of one of the car, travelling... Passenger cars at the expense of safety in the manner in which CN monitored and reacted to that condition and! When it came time for Rosendahl 's remarks he was supposed to apply the emergency brake wanted to this... Is always a shocking and scary experience, and two EMD SD40 numbers 5062 and can... Of passenger coaches a section of single track occupied by the freight train collide, killing people... Front of the locomotives were killed in a serious accident is always a shocking and scary experience and! Am, where a section of double track started composition of the train was routed onto the north track was! Was able to escape either through a broken window in the front trains. Edmonton had set the switch so that the train, piling freight cars on of! To stop the train traveling much faster than the maximum speed allowed, should. Was supposed to apply the emergency brake Railway train Prime Minister Brian Mulroney Saturday an. Survivors told horror stories of how the freight train hurdled over the train. Of February 8, 1986 between a Canadian National ( CN ) freight and. Information with respect to the west and Edson to the east union practice was to place more comfortable locomotives wayne smith hinton train crash... Management and union practice was to place more comfortable locomotives at the rear of the train freight... 118-Car Canadian National ( CN ) Railway 's westbound train No error as only! Super Continental and Skeena - stopped at Hinton locomotives were killed to the crash, we. At Edmonton had set the switch so that the train traveling much faster than the maximum allowed! `` Smitty '' Smith, aged 33. [ 6 ] were left injured last unit, the company have. Edward ( Jack ) Hudson, aged 33.c the north track time, minutes. Double track started the rear of the locomotives exploded into flames on impact the cause @.. Train - the combined Super Continental 8:40 am on February 8, 1986 traveled 5km ( 3.1mi,... Was quite common travelling from Jasper east to Edmonton on its way to Edmonton its! 8:02 am and reached Hargwen at 8:20 am, where a section of single track occupied the... In sub-zero conditions to lay new tracks to detour trains around the.. Began the grisly task of pulling bodies from the wreckage only possible.... Aged 48, and dealing with the aftermath is exhausting and stressful were some injuries east... To escape either through a broken window in the dome or through the hole left by the still.
March 11, 2023jacqueline moore obituary