Senior VIA News Editor Tim Hayman
VIA News Co-Editor Terry Muirhead:
vianews@canadianrailwayobservations.com

COLLISION BETWEEN TRAIN #51 AND OC TRANSPO BUS

On the morning of September 17th, VIA Train #51 collided with a double-decker “OC Transpo” bus at a grade crossing  in Ottawa, just before arriving at the Fallowfield Station. The Transportation Safety Board confirmed that the crossing gates and lights at the transitway crossing were working and cars on the adjacent Woodroffe Ave had stopped, but the bus drove right through them and into the front corner of the train. The front of the bus was sheared off, and the locomotive and several cars of the train derailed. Tragically, five passengers on the city bus(including the bus driver) were killed in the collision, and another bus victim died in hospital a few hours later. Some of the bus passengers were sent to hospital, a few in critical condition.  No VIA passengers on the train, or crew were injured.The investigation has begun, and it may still be some time before we know why the bus failed to stop at the crossing, and what (if any) changes may come as a result of this tragedy.

As a result of the accident, VIA temporarily suspended all trains between Brockville and Ottawa, and substituted buses as appropriate. The line was then re-opened, with service returning to normal by September 20th.
 
For more information:http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/09/18/via-train-and-ottawa-city-bus-collide-reports-of-multiple-fatalities

Collision Aftermath: Here's a photo of VIA P42DC 915 on the head-end of VIA #51, following this morning's tragic collision with an OC Transpo bus near the Fallowfield station. Between images of the damage done to the train and the terrifying damage to the bus, it's possible to get a sense of just how forceful this collision was. One can only imagine how much more disastrous this would have been if the bus had made it fully in front of the train before the collision. 
Once again, CRO wishes to extend our condolences to the families of the victims, and all others affected by this tragedy.

On September 21st, one of the lead units on VIA 14 (6434) had problems with its on-board computers before arriving at Moncton, NB, and shut down. To help make it to Halifax, NS, CN 4806 was added onto the head-end. And VIA 6434 was set out in Halifax. VIA 15 headed back on Sunday with CN 4806 leading VIA 6404 and a 19-car Ocean. David Othen caught this unusual consist as it left Halifax, snaking its way out of the station at the Young Ave. overpass 

Andre St-Amant shot this video on September 7th, of the  'Special' to the
Festival Western” at St-Tite, QC.  In years past, the same special had a park car on the rear, but due to a shortage of these cars, VIA substituted a SKYLINE instead.   http://youtu.be/17byBmDEZ7s

 

On August 28th, VIA #14 The Ocean left Montreal with rear facing F40PH-2d 6426 in tow behind the Skyline 8506 (in place of the usual Park). Normally when the Ocean arrives in Halifax, the train is turned on the balloon track at the Halterm container terminal. That particular week, Halterm was schedule to take delivery of two new Super Post-Panamax cranes. It was anticipated that the balloon track would be blocked as the cranes were offloaded, in which case VIA would need to make the 64-mile trip to Truro in order to turn the train for the next day, as the CN wye at Windsor Jct. was recently taken out of service (simply running the train in reverse is not an option, as the seats in the Renaissance coaches and the Skyline dome cannot be turned). With 6426 sent backwards and on the rear, VIA would be prepared to make that trip with a properly forward-facing locomotive.

By the time #14 arrived, the cranes had been offloaded and the track was clear, so the train was turned as usual and the Ocean returned to Montreal with 6426 on the rear. Marc Primeau submitted several photos of the Ocean that day, including rear-facing 6426 in Moncton and Halifax, and the unusual view from the Skyline dome!  (Mark Primeau photos with thanks)

Pierre Fournier of the Quebec Railfans Facebook group, submitted this photo taken at Point St-Charles Shop of the protected access to the parking lot with crossing flashers. CN later removed the cover for safety concerns and better visability. Photo taken on 09/09/89.

© CRO October 2013