On one of my railroad groups on Facebook, about the only reason I’m on there, there are pictures from a Twitter feed of the CP business train derailed. Appearently, Keith Creel - CP CEO, was onboard when it went on the ground.
From what little info provided, it sounds like it derailed in a yard that had either been enlarged or rehabilitated. (One person says it derailed in the “New” yard, but that the New yard is 80 years old.) That was the reason for the CEO’s visit. There is no info about location. I don’t know if it was in the US or Canada.
My understanding is that the business train was heading east for a golf tournament that Canadian Pacific sponsors (CP Canadian Women’s Open, part of the LPGA tour, being held in Ottawa this year). Creel must be a big fan of women’s golf, CN had previously sponsored this tournament during his years here.
The derailment happened in Sudbury, Ontario. I’m not too, too familiar with the area but judging by the time (late in the day), angle of the sun, and position of the INCO SuperStack in the background of the facebook video I believe the location is here, with the train backing around some tight curves into the Huron Central Railway yard, which would have been built some time after the original CP yard in Sudbury. The photographer would have been standing between Elgin Street and the tracks, looking west.
There was some speculation in the comments about how fairly rigid three axle passenger car trucks like to climb the rail in tight curves or pick switches.
If you’re on facebook, the video I’m referring to was posted in a public group called “CPR Retirees”. This link will only work if you’re logged in.
Back when Chessie System was celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the creation of the B&O, a special train was operated from DC with dignitaries from both civic and political persuasions to the B&O Museum where a celebratory dinner was being held. Terminal forces had spend the prior two months moving hospital trains of Heavy Bad Orders that were being stored on the tracks between Mt. Clare A Yard and the Museum. The special train derailed while it was in the process of being turned so the dignitaries could return to TC. Trackage between the Museum and A Yard would be called excepted track under todays track grading system.
When you press your luck, you will generally be unlucky.
“Train making inspection trip makes rare southbound move on Ontario’s longest rail bridge”
(areial photo):
[As well as the folowing text]:
FTA:"…PARRY SOUND, Ontario — A Canadian Pacific special using the railroad’s Royal Canadian Pacific trainset makes a rare southbound move across the railroad’s bridge over the Seguin River at about noon on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, during a trip from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to Toronto. CP executives including CEO Keith Creel were reportedly on board.
The 1,697-foot-long, 105-foot-tall bridge, completed in 1907, is reportedly the longest in Ontario. It is in an area where CP and Canadian National have a directional running agreement between Parry Sound and Sudbury, Ont., and normally handles northbound traffic. But photographer Brandon Muir reports the CP train moved against the normal directional flow to allow the CP managers to observe their right-of-way…"
(Photo Caption was as follows):
FTA:“…A Canadian Pacific executive special heads south across the railroad’s Seguin Valley Trestle on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (Brandon Muir)…” [ photo was
Neither - sharp curve vs. passenger cars w/ restricted throw shelf couplers … If TOFC flats can’t use the track, long coaches certainly should not either … operating bubbas broke their own rules.
