Train Wreck

The following pictures are what dad took of a very nasty Train Wreck in the 1950's. The derailment happened East of the Town of Antigonish, Nova Scotia at South River. Dad told me long ago the date it happened but now forgotten and I believe the reason for the wreck was the Engineer was speeding to make up some time and realized he had lost hsi brakes. I cannot remember if Dad said the train was Eastbound to Sydney, or Westbound to Truro.

Dad said when he took the pictures he walked past Officials from the Canadian National and they didn't think twice about him. During this part of Dad's life he would wear a Blazer with a tie. The CNR Officials probably thought Dad was the Official Photographer taking pictures of the wreck for further Investigation.

4312 - Stellarton, Nova Scotia sometime before the wreck at South River.

4312 - New July, 1929 - Canadian Locomotive Co. Kingston, Ontario. Re-numbered 4712 March, 1959 - Scrapped February, 1960. The 4312 was of the T-4-a Class of 2-10-2 Locomotive. The locomotive had 24x28" cylinders, 57" driving wheels, 250 lbs in boiler pressure per square inch and a haulage rating o 60%.

4312 - Truro, Nova Scotia after the wreck at South River.

Dad would have taken a trip to Truro to take this picture. This picture was no doubt taken not long after the wreck as the Locomotive would have been taken to Moncton, New Brunswick where the Canadian National Railway had shops that could take this damaged locomotive and make it look new again.

4312 - Wreck Site - South River, Nova Scotia.

This is a picture that gives the look of the locomotive at rest. By the time Dad got to the wreck site to take the pictures the railway had the temporary track in place so traffic could get moving again. At the time these pictures were taken, there were 3 Passenger Trains between Sydney and Halifax each way and at least 2 or more Freight Trains in each directioin. With the railway shutdown at this point, there would be a backlog of traffic needing to get through.

It also reminds me of how Dad's trains he had set up on the 4x8' plywood board would look if I managed to have the train traveling around the figure 8 at "warp speed". After a couple of times of having his prised locomotive laying on it's side, I was again restricted to only watching his model trains move around the figure 8.

4312 - Wreck Site - South River, Nova Scotia.

Looking at this picture, you can only imagine the force of impact that the locomotive hit the ground. I cannot recall if the Engineer and Fireman survived the wreck or perished. No doubt when the Engineer knew they were going to crash he probably told the Fireman to jump. Also riding in the locomotive would have been a Brakeman who's job was to open the switches for the train to enter sidings to meet trains, and another task the Brakeman had was to walk about a mile ahead of the train if it stalled or had to stop to flag down any opposing train that may be traveling in the opposite direction.

South River Wreck.

Train Wrecks bring out the crowds who like to look. This would be a big event for Antigonish. If this was today, the crowds would be allowed no-where near the wreck site. I can remember one train wreck that Dad toom me to see in the early 1970's in Afton, Nova Scotia. We couldn't get anywhere close to the derailment.

South River Wreck.

Another picture that shows the force of impact and how destructive a Derailment can be. I can only imagine the amount of force the boxcars came upon when they stopped quick banging into the trees. Imagine how loud the sound would be at the time the wreck happened.

South River Wreck.

When a derailment happens many things happen. Crews have to be called, the big equipment is dispatched and the officials have to come investigate (both rail and the Govenment authorities). In this picture you can see the big Wrecking Cranes about to clear the right-of-way.

The railway official is there as well as the Wrecking Crew. The chap crouched down near the steam crane is watching to make sure the Steam Crane's wheels remain on the rails and not lift. If he sees any of the wheels lift off the rails from the Wrecking Crane lifting the derailed car, he has button he can push that blows a whistle to notify the Wrecking Crane operator the Crane could possible topple over.

South River Wreck.

A closer view of the above picture. I like thinking that Dad in his Blazer and tie would be walking about like he was the Official Photographer for the Railway. In this picture the two Wrecking Cranes are visible.

South River Wreck.

Dad told me the Canadian National had to dispatch 3 Wrecking Cranes to the derailment. Dad said that the railway originally dispatched the Wrecking Crane from Sydney and from Truro. Dad said on of the Cranes toppled over and a third Crane had to be dispatched from Moncton in New Brunswick. No doubt the Railway would need to have the line opened as quick as possible so this third Wrecking Crane would have rights over all other trains except 1st class Passenger Trains.

You can spot the Railway Officials as they are the ones in the trench coats and hats. I can only imagine the questions that would need to be asked and answered and how much this one derailment would cost the railway in dollars and cents. The Bean Counters would be using wearing out their adding machines.

South River Wreck.

This last picture shows the Bunkhouse or Crew Cars that Wrecking Crews would stay in when not clearing the line. Depending on how sever the wreck and important the line, crews would work 24 hrs a day to re-open the line.

In future posts will upload some more of my Dad's steam pictures.

Till the next time.

All Aboard

"The Old Fart"