Part 1 was the genesis of CN No 306's derailment at Mi 178 Kingston Sub on March 17, 2005. In this Part 2, we'll clean up the incident by covering the clean-up. There were eight derailed cars, atop the Gardiners Road underpass. I visited the site in the morning of March 18, though taking these photos into the morning sun at 1100 did not provide the best lighting! The worst was over and the derailed cars were already rerailed by heavy equipment. It's easy to see how a trespasser could cross the tracks here, as there are gaps in the right-of-way fences at the ends of the overpass and a subdivision south of the south track, east of Gardiners Road. Such a trespasser was the cause of emergency brake application that led to the derailment.
Before my arrival, that morning's trains past the site included No 105 at 0500, No 120 at 0515, VIA No 51 at station 0520, No 104 at 0630, and No 362 at 0715.
At 0525, Work Extra 6023 arrived from the west (symbol W30031117), and was given a Form 564 at 0600 to proceed from Queens West to the derailment site on the south track.
At 0745, CN No 310 set out ten cars of slag ballast ordered from Toronto MacMillan Yard into track 1 at Queens.
At 0800, VIA No 41 was making its station stop, asking for a signal for the south track! Foreman Dave Reynolds responded there was no way, due to the cars on the ground in a big hole up here!
Foreman Reynolds was clearing all approaching trains with the following foremen also operating inside his Rule 42 limits: foreman Tammy Taylor stationed at the Centennial Drive overpass project, foreman Joe Whalen, foreman Dave Scott, foreman Dave Casano, equipment supervisor Mark Ethier from Toronto and Mike Taylor.
At 0820, foreman Mike Labelle is given a Track Occupancy Permit to take two spikers and a hi-rail truck west from Queens on the north track to Ernestown, then crossing to the south track and returning to work the west end of the derailment site.
At 0830, the crew bus is loaded up for Denny's. Some are not able to make it as they are still rolling the rail near Country Style, west of the site.
At 0845, foreman Randy Snarr replaces Dave Reynolds, though still running the Rule 42 under Reynolds' name, confusing to all including those who are good at recognizing voices! Reynolds is louder with folksy delivery; Snarr quieter and terser.
At 0900, No 305 is holding for spikers as well as VIA No 52 at Queens. The work train is lifting the ballast cars at Queens set out by No 310. Dan Ash was supervising the slinging panels over the north track, and truck driver Don Bainen was hi-railing to Collins Bay Road, working east from there unloading bags of anchors from his truck east of Mi 178.7.
VIA No 52 was held west of Collins Bay for 30+ minutes waiting for the hi-rail truck. The Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) was soon calling 'Dave Reynolds' to ask why!
At 1015, 'Dave Reynolds' reported a hanging bracket on one of CN No 305's boxcars, to be inspected upon arrival at Belleville.
More passing trains: CN No 103 at 1030 and VIA No 53 at 1035.
Driving to the derailment site at 1100, I passed two spikers and the Trax hi-rail truck were operating across from Frontenac Secondary School. Later, a tamper and ballast regulator were operating around Mi 179 with a hi-rail pickup. Upon reaching the site, two Don Hart excavators from Napanee were operating on the south track on the Gardiners Road underpass. One was digging up ties, the other was lifting panel track into place from a float truck which had been backed up to the south track. Welded rail at this location had been cut and removed. Removing rails, lifting panel track (above and below):
The NOKL hopper had been removed. The NAHX and CN hoppers had been rerailed by Hulcher. The next CCBX tank car was off the rails, having been pushed east by a large Hulcher bulldozer, about to be rerailed. Two other Hulcher side-boom bulldozers were alongside. The other three tank cars and the RFMX hopper had all been rerailed. Side-boom bulldozer at left, another bulldozer pushes the last rerailed car (below and top photo):
North side view, looking west, with panel track and hi-rail truck on north track (below). The track formerly in the foreground was CN's Industrial Spur to the Northern Telecom plant.
CN flatbed transport truck with MK IV tamper, backed into an access road between Union Gas and commercial buildings on the east side of Gardiners Road south of the underpass (below). Numerous CN trucks, as well as a float truck carrying panel track, two CN Police cars and three Hulcher float trucks were in the field in the southwest corner of Gardiners Road.
Local railfan Tim Reid took this photo (purchased from Liz Reid) earlier in the day, with two side-booms lifting that CASCO tank car and panel track on the transport truck:
At 1100, Work Extra 6023 was leaving the east end of Queens onto the south track. It went west pulling ten ballast cars and coupled onto the three easternmost rerailed cars.
Trains past the site: VIA No 57 at 1230, CN No 149 at 1240. The road repair truck was returning to Belleville.
Between 1400 and 1530, the following trains passed the site: VIA Nos 60, 61, 44, 45, and CN No 308. At 1515, CN No 363 expressed concern to the RTC about stopping its 167 cars, including 30 welded rail cars on the head end. Not wanting to put on the brakes on one that big because it might not get started again.
Foreman Randy Snarr (aka Dave Reynolds) was clearing all approaching trains with the following foremen: Tammy Taylor, Norm Primeau, Brian Mylks and Dan Ash. Foreman Brian Cooper and trainmaster Don Anderson were also on scene.
At 1530, track machines were left at the north end of the Cataraqui Spur for lifting by crane onto float trucks later.
At 1600, a bus trip to Denny's was being organized, thence to the Comfort Inn.
The work train, directed by foreman John Shakel, was unloading ballast on the newly-laid panel track while also pushing the rerailed cars. The engineer wanted to get rid of the cars with blocks and chains on them. The answer was no. Would Shakel take responsibility for them, then? The answer was yes.
The spikers moved west of Frontenac Secondary School pedestrian crossing to Mi 179 to make headroom for the work train.
At 1600, No 309 was held at Queens with 13,000 tons and the lead engine dead due to no fuel, not passing the site until 1650.
Work Extra 6023 went into emergency heading back to Queens at 1715. CN No 377 was held in Queens 1 for VIA Nos 64 and 65, passing the site at 1830.
At 1730, CN No 306 was held in Queens on the north track for VIA trains.
Foreman Dave Reynolds is *really* back on Rule 42 Duty at 1800. As No 377 heads west, they express amazement that the derailment has been cleaned up already. Reynolds replies he feels sorry for the crew who had struck a child in Brockville just last month. He also noted that luckily, all the derailed ars had remained coupled and upright.
The RTC calls Reynolds to ask whether he can run trains on the south track. Reynolds is waiting to hear from Signals & Communiations. Two maintainers are onsite now, and when they confirm that track circuits are operating, they will call the RTC. There will be a 25 mph slow order on the south track at Mi 178. There was discussion between Reynolds and the maintainers regarding the implications of a 25 mph slow order on the timing of nearby crossing circuits.
At 1845, VIA No 47 passes on the north track at 5 mph. Reynolds reminds them that the maximum is *50* mph.
Trains past the site: VIA No 67 at 1930 and CN No 321 at 1940.
At 1950, the first train over the new track was CN No 376 with 15,000 tons and 10,000 feet. They passed by at 10 mph, increasing to 25 mph.
At 2010, VIA No 48 passed over the south track at 25 mph, slow order flags not yet placed.
More trains on the south track: CN No 368 at 2020, 106 at 2200, 148 at 2300. CN No 519 is in the area at 2330, not able to enter the Cataraqui Spur due to switch.
At 2100, Reynolds contacts the RTC for confirmation of Rule 43 at the site:
Due to track conditions
Form B
specifying speed restriction of 25 mph
has been issued on south track
Mi 178 to 178.1 Kingston Sub.
Rule 42 protection ends at 2330.
This was the second, albeit minor, derailment that has occurred on top of the Gardiners Road underpass. Watch for an upcoming post on the first one.
Running extra...
CN Kinghorn and Caramat Subs in HO. One of the most realistic layout videos you'll ever watch. Here's a once-around layout tour - check out the realistic ballast pit and back tracks.
This past Tuesday's Associated Railroaders of Kingston Zoom meeting featured an informative presentation by fellow ARK member Andrew Jeanes on newly-formed VIA Historical Association (VHA). Andrew covered VIA's history, its preserved and to-be-preserved equipment, and the work of the VHA. Watch for an upcoming post on this VIAble effort!
2 comments:
Thanks for the shout out Eric!
Not that you need me saying so, but it's total awesomeness!
Eric
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