CN Derailment and Injuries

Many train derailments and other accidents occur in rail yards, sidings and other locations where trains switch from one track to another.

Two CN locomotives derailed December 17 as they entered a rail yard in Williams Lake, British Columbia (Got News Network). Few details are available.

Three CN contractors were injured December 26 when they were hit by a CN train as they were clearing snow off rail switches in northeast Edmonton (Edmonton Journal {1}). Two of the workers were brought to the hospital in critical condition but have since been upgraded to stable, while the third man has relatively minor injuries (Edmonton Journal {2}). All 3 men were wearing ear protection while using snowblowers and did not hear the approaching train. It is not clear whether any of the men was watching the tracks for danger. According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the railway maintenance crew was supposed to be working under the “Safety Watch” protocol that calls for one worker to act as a lookout for danger (Edmonton Journal {3}).

~ by railroaded on December 28, 2012.