Debris from rail car causes Cobourg derailment
An unidentified piece from a service engine on a freight train struck the fuel tank, then flew under one of the wheels causing a massive derailment in the west end of Cobourg Saturday.
A Hamilton Township firefighter who attended the wreck said a CN investigator told me an unknown object ruptured the fuel tank sparking a fire, then flew under one of the wheels. This caused the service engine to jump off the tracks near Burnham Street.
"Once one comes off, the rest follow," he said.
Twenty-three cars came off the track. Cobourg and Baltimore firefighters responded. The Harwood fire hall was also called into action to backfill for the others as part of the mutual aid plan.
By 11:00 p.m., there was only one derailed freight car left on the track. The others had been removed and piled up in a small community park off Sinclair Street. CN work crews were busy unloading prefabricated sections of track, which arrived from yard in Montreal and Toronto. Huge portable stadium lights were brought in as crews planned to work through the night to restore service.
Cobourg police and Northumberland OPP were busy securing the area, as curious onlookers strained to watch the action.
One driver of a Red GMC truck was arrested and handcuffed around 10:30 p.m., when he tried to drive through to the work area. Police taped off Burnham Street from all traffic. Curious onlookers gathered in Sinclair Park to watch as crews moved cars and works furiously to install the prefabricated track.
The train went off the tracks around 11:00 a.m. Saturday. A nearby strip mall on Westwood Drive was evacuated immediately as a precaution. Once it was determined the cars were empty and nothing was toxic, people were allowed to return.
VIA rail is reporting it will restore service by Sunday.
A Hamilton Township firefighter who attended the wreck said a CN investigator told me an unknown object ruptured the fuel tank sparking a fire, then flew under one of the wheels. This caused the service engine to jump off the tracks near Burnham Street.
"Once one comes off, the rest follow," he said.
Twenty-three cars came off the track. Cobourg and Baltimore firefighters responded. The Harwood fire hall was also called into action to backfill for the others as part of the mutual aid plan.
By 11:00 p.m., there was only one derailed freight car left on the track. The others had been removed and piled up in a small community park off Sinclair Street. CN work crews were busy unloading prefabricated sections of track, which arrived from yard in Montreal and Toronto. Huge portable stadium lights were brought in as crews planned to work through the night to restore service.
Cobourg police and Northumberland OPP were busy securing the area, as curious onlookers strained to watch the action.
One driver of a Red GMC truck was arrested and handcuffed around 10:30 p.m., when he tried to drive through to the work area. Police taped off Burnham Street from all traffic. Curious onlookers gathered in Sinclair Park to watch as crews moved cars and works furiously to install the prefabricated track.
The train went off the tracks around 11:00 a.m. Saturday. A nearby strip mall on Westwood Drive was evacuated immediately as a precaution. Once it was determined the cars were empty and nothing was toxic, people were allowed to return.
VIA rail is reporting it will restore service by Sunday.
posted by Robert Washburn at
11:56 PM
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