Okay, as you may know, I live in Chatham Kent, in a small town called Thamesville.
Long time ago, there was CNR 5703, a 4-6-4, which is still around at St Thomas, Ontario, at their museum. 5703 pulled night trains between Windsor, and Toronto, and in my small town, the 5703’s and her night consist was known as the 10 O’clock Flyer, as that was the time the train flew through the town. This locomotive crashed not once, but TWICE in my small town. The first time, it was when a switch was left open, and it flipped over, and sending box cars and parts all over town. There were no fatalities, minus the engineer’s finger. Later, the train crashed again, and it hit a tractor trailer full of CYANIDE PELLETS! The cyanide snowed all over town, and Thamesville became renowned. Luckily, it didn’t rain, which would have made this disaster even worse. Anyway, I thought that it was odd, since in the loco’s ENTIRE CAREER, the only times it was in an accident, was in my little town.
Anybody remember when this happened? I know it got on the radio, in the newspaper, etc.
Also, I’d also post a picture, but there are none online, only in a book I read called Thamesville Railway Memories, by Lloyd Mitton.
True, I also have knowledge of two other wrecks in my little town…
A long, long time ago, a bunch of box cars full of brandy, beer, scotch, whiskey, etc derailed, with the alcohol spilling all over, and dripping out of the box cars. Many town’s folk got buckets and collected the stuff, only to get arrested.
Also, there was one accident that changed all locomotives in Canada.
In April 1999, a frozen switch was left open to the Co-op, which spur curves very sharply. The train flipped, with the top of the train ripped clean off, killing the two train drivers. The locomotive was an F40PH, which is known for it’s safety cab bulge. But, seeing as not too many trains flip right on there tops, the loco builders over looked this, so all locomotive frames were strengthened on top, for maximum protection. Here a pic of the engine when put back on track.
Also, on the CPR tracks in North Thamesville (town built around CPR station, bout 2 KM north of town), a 3 year old was killed, and a Ford Model A was hit by a train, killing 1 person. Since then no accidents have happened on the CPR line. Both accidents involved steam engines.
