22 February 2008
Derailment "Minor": CPR
Crowsnest Lake Alberta - A derailment described as minor
by CPR officials caused no damage or any environmental impact.
At about 3:10 p.m. on Tuesday, 12 Feb 2008, several wheels of the two lead locomotives of an eastbound freight train left
the tracks at mile 97.8 of Canadian Pacific's Crowsnest Subdivision, near Crowsnest Lake west of Coleman.
According to Canadian Pacific spokesperson Breanne Feigel, the two locomotives remained upright and intact.
"Crews were able to rerail the locomotives in about 24 hours," Feigel said. "Crews were dealing with rather cool
weather, so crews had to rerail the locomotives using hand tools."
The locomotives were General Electric AC4400CWs, which weigh over 500,000 pounds each and carry 5,000 gallons of diesel.
These heavy-haul locomotives are in standard use through mountainous terrain, where steep grades call for large, heavy
locomotives to pull the long trains through the Rocky Mountains.
After being placed back onto the tracks, the two locomotives left the area under their own power.
The Crowsnest Subdivision, the formal name of the rail line that extends from the CP Yard in Lethbridge through the Crowsnest Pass to
Cranbrook, was closed for 24 hours while crews worked. Trains were rerouted north through Calgary.
Of concern to the municipality, after it was determined the derailment didn't pose any danger to the residents or environment of the
Pass, was the fact no one from CP Rail formally notified the Municipality that an accident had taken place within the town limits.
Public Works Superintendent Ray Mahieux was informed about the derailment by a councillor, and attended the scene at 9 a.m. the next
day.
Rock Poznikoff, an official with CPR, said an investigation would be made as to why the Municipality wasn't informed about the
accident.
According to CPR, it is standard procedure that notification should be made.
The incident is under investigation by CPR and the Transportation Safety Board.
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