Worst railway accidents Accident Date Location Killed Injured Description Ref. Jeannette's Creek train wreck 27 October 1854 Chatham-Kent, Canada West 52+ 48 Believing a westbound Great Western Railway (GW) express had already passed, a locomotive engineer backed his 15-car gravel train from a siding onto the main line, where it collided with the oncoming express. The freight engineer and conductor were charged with manslaughter, but the outcome is unknown. Desjardins Canal disaster 12 March 1857 Hamilton, Canada West 59 18 A wheel fracture caused the leading wheels of a locomotive to derail. By this time, the westbound GW passenger train was on the Desjardins Canal bridge. Tearing the timber, the locomotive crashed through the bridge deck, dragging the passenger cars into the icy water. Beloeil train disaster 29 June 1864 Otterburn Park, near Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Canada East 99 100 At the controls of a westbound Grand Trunk (GT) passenger train (partly using repurposed grain cars), the engineer missed a warning light indicating an open swing span for the Beloeil bridge. The locomotive and cars plunged onto a barge passing on the Richelieu River. The engineer's prosecution is unclear. Shannonville derailment 22 June 1872 east of Shannonville, Ontario 34 31 When a breaking flange caused the leading wheels to derail, an eastbound GT locomotive plunged over an embankment. Two passenger cars telescoped and fell upon the locomotive, scalding the passengers with steam. Komoka passenger car inferno 28 June 1874 east of Komoka, Ontario 10 ? When an oil lamp fell in a passenger car on a westbound GW mixed train, the fire rapidly spread, because of the delay in alerting the engineer to stop the train. In civil actions, awards to survivors for burn injuries ranged from $250 to $1,450. A payment for death was denied. Yamaska derailment 28 June 1875 west of Yamaska, Quebec 10 25 A westbound construction train of railway contractor Louis-Adélard Senécal comprised six flatcars loaded with workers pushed by a locomotive. On striking timber laid across the track, the first five flatcars overturned. The identities of the culprits who placed the obstacle were never proven. Toronto High Park head-on collision 2 January 1884 High Park, Toronto, Ontario 29 ? A light eastbound GT freight and a westbound GT commuter, comprising a locomotive and two wooden passenger cars, struck head on. The pushed furnace set the first passenger car alight. The freight engineer (Richard Jeffry) and conductor (George Barber) were negligent in failing to read the employee timetable carefully but were acquitted of manslaughter. St. Thomas intersection collision 15 July 1887 St. Thomas, Ontario 17 ? At intersecting tracks in the town centre, a packed northbound GT excursion train rammed a tanker car of crude oil of a westbound Michigan Central Railroad freight. The wreckage fire spread to surrounding buildings, before a second tanker exploded, also injuring spectators. Air brake failure was blamed. St. George bridge derailment 27 February 1889 South of St. George, Ontario 11 32 While an eastbound GT express was passing the siding, a flange broke on a driving wheel, dislocating the coupling rod. After the derailed express blundered onto the bridge, a dining and a passenger car destroyed a bridge span before plunging to the creek below. Another car was left hanging over the gap. Hamilton junction derailment 28 Apr 1889 north of Hamilton, Ontario 18 ? At the west/northeast/southeast junction, an eastbound GT express jumped the track on entering a curve. After crossing of open ground, the locomotive struck a water tank. A series of cars telescoped and caught fire. A broken flange was blamed, but speed was likely a factor. Craig Road rear-end collision 9 July 1895 northeast of Saint-Agapit, Quebec 14 38 The first of two northeast-bound GT excursion trains stopped on the main line at Craig Road station, while waiting for an approaching freight train to enter the passing track. Failure to slow before plowing into the rear of the first train indicated negligence by the deceased crew of the following GT locomotive. Point Ellice Bridge disaster 26 May 1896 Victoria, British Columbia 55 ? The bridge collapsed while a streetcar with about 124 passengers was crossing, causing Car No. 6 and roadway users to plunge into the harbour. Primarily to blame was the Consolidated Electric Railway for the overloaded streetcar. For contributory negligence, the municipality paid victims a total of $150,000. Murray Hill head-on collision 15 November 1898 west of Peterborough, Ontario 11 14 Ignoring a red light and unaware the switch was not reset to enter the southern passing track, a GT westbound express collided head on with a slow-moving eastbound freight train on the northern track. The passenger cars telescoped. Wanstead angled collision 26 December 1902 Wanstead, Ontario 28 32 After waiting for the western switch to be unfrozen, an eastbound GT freight train proceeded to enter the passing track but not before a westbound GT express approached along the main line. The impact overturned both locomotives and telescoped the forward passenger cars. Communications breakdowns between dispatchers were to blame. Sand Point head-on collision 9 February 1904 west of Sand Point, Ontario 13 23 A westbound Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) express failed to stop for train orders at Sand Point. About farther west, the locomotive and an eastbound CP express struck head on. Some westbound passenger cars telescoped. This crew was found negligent but faced no charges. Azilda head-on collision 12 September 1906 Azilda, Ontario 12 ? A westbound CP passenger train was stationary at the eastern switch before entering the passing track. Brake failure on an eastbound CP express led to a head-on crash with the other train. An incorrectly closed valve on the rear of the baggage car caused the loss of air brakes on the following passenger cars. Lakeview head-on collision 10 November 1909 south ofTrout Lake,East Vancouver,British Columbia 15 9 A runaway northwest-bound BCER flatcar loaded with lumber crashed into a southeast-bound BCER streetcar. The brakeman aboard the flatcar had tried to reset the brakes before jumping to safety. The coroner's court was unable to determine whether the flatcar had been properly coupled prior to the incident. Kilby Creek washout 28 November 1909 south ofLougheed Mall,Burnaby,British Columbia 22 ? Heavy rain had weakened the culvert at Kilby Creek (Lost Creek). When an eastbound Great Northern Railway (GN) work train was crossing the creek, the locomotive had reached the other side prior to the culvert collapsing. A boxcar, carrying a Japanese work gang, and a flatcar, plunged into the ravine. Spanish River derailment 21 January 1910 west of Webbwood, Ontario 43 38 On the approach, a passenger car midway along a westbound CP express derailed but was safely dragged across the bridge. The next car slammed into the bridge superstructure and split in half. One half burst into flames, the other plunged into the icy river, accompanied by the next two cars. Rogers Pass avalanche 4 March 1910 Rogers Pass, British Columbia 62 0 While clearing an avalanche blocking the track, a CP section gang was buried by a second avalanche. The impact hurled a 91-ton locomotive and plow and splintered wooden boxcars. Rescuers found only one survivor, the remainder were frozen corpses. Queenstown derailment 7 July 1915 south of Niagara Falls, Ontario 15 88 After a descending Niagara Falls and Victoria Park Railway streetcar passed the first curve (only safety switch), motor power was lost when the pole left the overhead wire, the air brakes failed, and only the handbrake was operational. The car negotiated two sharp curves but plunged over an embankment at the third. Brandon head-on collision 12 January 1916 Brandon, Manitoba 19 ? On the main line (adjacent to the rail yard) an eastbound CP livestock train, and a westbound CP snow-clearing train being pushed, gently collided during poor visibility. The impact rammed the caboose into a buckled flatcar, slicing the former, where about 30 workers were sheltering from the bitter cold. Drocourt head-on collision 20 March 1929 northwest of Drocourt, Ontario 17 19 Eastbound and westbound Canadian National Railway (CN) transcontinentals crashed head on. The latter had failed to stop for train orders at Drocourt. The westbound conductor was killed, and the negligent engineer was acquitted of manslaughter. Crerar derailment 27 June 1930 Crerar, Ontario 10 ? During stormy weather, a westbound CN freight train tipped over on encountering a sink hole. Eight of the dead were freighthoppers. The inquest was conducted in conjunction with the Capreol one, to the west. On the prior day, two passenger cars from an eastbound CN express derailed and plunged into the Vermillion River from the embankment curve, killing five and injuring 36. Dundas rear-end collision 25 December 1934 west of Dundas, Ontario 15 30+ While his eastbound CN passenger train parked on a siding, a brakeman headed to Dundas to arrange a replacement locomotive. Falsely believing his own train was on the main line, he reset the switch sending an approaching CN express into the siding and the rear of his train but was acquitted of manslaughter. Downie snow clearing accident 2 March 1936 east ofAlbert Canyon,British Columbia 16 ? When a snowslide engulfed a freight train east of Albert Canyon, a work gang began snow removal, but the rescued tender under tow broke loose and ran back down the track. Two occupants jumped safely, but a third jumped to his death. The speeding tender plowed into the work gang causing devastation. Louiseville truck/train crash 15 August 1936 near Louiseville, Quebec 22 12 A CP freight train sliced a truck attempting to cross the tracks, which was carrying a group returning from a political rally. Almonte rear-end collision 27 December 1942 Almonte, Ontario 36 155 A southeast-bound CP troop train ran into the rear of a CP local passenger train stopped at the station. The troop train conductor drowned himself before the inquest, which focussed on the absence of adequate warning devices to indicate the presence of the first train. Aldershot bus/train crash 10 September 1943 Aldershot, Burlington, Ontario 12 2 When a fast eastbound CN passenger train struck a Canada Coach Lines bus stalled on the Waterdown Rd railway crossing, the bus was sliced and dragged several hundred metres. The deceased driver was found negligent. Dugald rail accident 1 September 1947 Dugald, Manitoba 31 85 A westbound CN excursion train, which failed to stop at the east switch and enter the passing track, collided head on with a stationary eastbound Continental Ltd on the main line. Gas-lit wooden cars burst into flames. Primary blame was on the westbound crew for disobeying train orders and excessive speed. Canoe River train crash 21 November 1950 north of Valemount, British Columbia 21 58 Faulty train orders provided to a westbound CN troop train led to a head-on collision with an eastbound CN Continental Ltd. Both trains tumbled down an embankment. Most casualties occurred in the wooden cars of the troop train. A telegraph operator was acquitted of manslaughter. Lamont bus/train crash 29 Nov 1960 Lamont, Alberta 17 25 A westbound CN freight train shattered a school bus negotiating an unguarded railway crossing. The bus driver appeared to have been blinded by the rising sun in that direction. Dorion level crossing accident 7 October 1966 Dorion, Quebec 19 26 An eastbound CN freight train struck a school bus on a railway crossing. The coroner's report concluded that two students on the bus, who were not expecting another train, had raised the crossing barrier after a westbound train had passed. Hinton train collision 8 February 1986 west of Dalehurst, Alberta 23 71 A westbound CN freight train, which ran a red signal before leaving a portion of double track, col