by JayBee
There was a fatal runaway accident on Kicking Horse Pass (CP's Laggan Subdivision) at approximately 1:00 am on 2/4/19. The crew of grain train #301 out of Calgary, AB had run out of time at Partridge Siding and had just been relieved by a new crew after waiting 2 hours for the new crew to arrive. The new crew had just boarded the train when it began to move without the Engineer releasing the brakes. The train accelerated to 50 mph by the time the headend reached the Upper
Spiral Tunnel, but it successfully negotiated the curved tunnel. The speed continued to increase until the lead locomotive left the rails on the curve just before the bridge over the Kicking Horse River. The locomotive fell on its side and slid down the bank and into the river. The Engineer and Conductor were killed on the locomotive, while a Conductor Trainee survived the crash but died in the Ambulance. Due to the very cold weather the train was running in a 1x1x1 setup with two DPU locomotives. According to the preliminary Canada TSB report the train had been sitting a Partridge Siding for 2 hours with the train brakes in Emergency. Train weight was 14,500 tons and 6676' in length. 99 out of 112 cars of grain derailed along with two of the three locomotives, including the mid-train DPU which is a Union Pacific locomotive. Also according to the TSB official in response to a question, said that 75% of the train's retainers were set in the High Pressure position.
Spiral Tunnel, but it successfully negotiated the curved tunnel. The speed continued to increase until the lead locomotive left the rails on the curve just before the bridge over the Kicking Horse River. The locomotive fell on its side and slid down the bank and into the river. The Engineer and Conductor were killed on the locomotive, while a Conductor Trainee survived the crash but died in the Ambulance. Due to the very cold weather the train was running in a 1x1x1 setup with two DPU locomotives. According to the preliminary Canada TSB report the train had been sitting a Partridge Siding for 2 hours with the train brakes in Emergency. Train weight was 14,500 tons and 6676' in length. 99 out of 112 cars of grain derailed along with two of the three locomotives, including the mid-train DPU which is a Union Pacific locomotive. Also according to the TSB official in response to a question, said that 75% of the train's retainers were set in the High Pressure position.