SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — Drivers stopped for a passing Canadian National train Tuesday are lucky to be alive after the train derailed at the grade crossing spilling freight cars and cargo over the prairie.
At least two drivers happened to have cameras with them to capture the entire event from both sides of the crossing. One of the videos is reportedly taken from a dashboard camera.
CTV News reports that a 52-car Canadian National train moving near Saskatoon derailed about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Diesel fuel from the train leaked and caught fire. No injuries were reported, according to the news outlet. Local firefighters extinguished the blaze by early Tuesday afternoon. News media report that the railroad had removed derailed freight cars and were repairing the track.
Railroad officials are investigating the cause of the wreck.
More information is available online.
Amazing footage
Wonder if Hulcher operates in Canada. Looks like they just might be needed.
One video of the wreck seems to show the DPU shoving at track speed after at least 10 cars in front of it have hit the ballast. The faulty car that triggered the derailment seemed to be kicking up a snow plume as it entered the camera’s field of vision. It seemed to veer off to the left of the direction of travel about midway across the highway crossing. Is this the best reaction time the DPU is capable of? And why on earth aren’t the locomotives equipped with autonomous fire suppression equipment? It couldn’t cost that much to install a foam retardent system and perhaps consider a puncture resistant bladder inside the fuel tank. With trains hauling hazmat materials through populated areas, some thought to updating safety equipment and accident prevention/mitigation equipment should be a consideration. I’ll bet equipment suppliers would step up to the plate. The cost of such items would be more than reclaimed by fewer/less costly accidents. I think a professional cost/benefit analysis by a competent engineer would bear me out. +
Whenever I have to stop at a railroad crossing
I usually stay 100 feet back from the crossing.
I say a prayer for those who drive right up to the barriers
This video shows two drivers who were very lucky you could get ground up like ……….or burnt up……or trapped
In a collision does the midtrain DPU exasperate the situation by pushing the cars ahead of it or does it help contain the carnage because it applies brakes and holds the cars back?
A good reminder to stand back a safe distance when railfanning. I’m glad everyone is ok.
Wow!!!
The derailment will break air hoses which immediately puts the entire train into emergency and shuts down the DPU.