Ponton train derailment
The Ponton train derailment, near Ponton, Manitoba, fatally injured train conductor Kevin Anderson, injured the train's engineer, and triggered a spill of diesel fuel.[1]
Background
The train was pulled by 3 locomotives, and contained "several dozen" tanker cars, loaded with "liquid petroleum".[2] Initially Arctic Gateway Group reported that no oil had been spilled.[3] On September 19 Global News described the train's cargo in greater detail, stating it included gasoline, liquid propane gas and butane.[4] Global reported that while none of the cargo had been spilled rail workers were trying to contain diesel fuel that was leaking from the locomotives.
The train was crossing the Metishto River, when it derailed.[5] Accounts differ as to when the train derailed. Global reports the train derailed at 6:45 pm.[4] CBC reports the train derailed around 3:45 am.[1] First responders arrived around 5:45. Anderson's autopsy stated Anderson died from blood loss, and his wounds were survivable. However he continued to bleed for hours, after first responders arrived.
By September 20 several news sources reported an investigator from the Transportation Safety Board attributed the derailment to the work of beavers.[5][6]
References
-
Marianne Klowak (2018-10-29). "Mother of conductor who bled to death waiting more than 9 hours for help calls for inquest". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2018-10-30. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
The engineer survived, but an autopsy report on Anderson said he bled to death after suffering "serious but survivable injuries."
-
James Murray (2018-09-16). "Arctic Gateway Group Statement on Hudson Bay Railway Derailment". Net News Ledger. Archived from the original on 2018-09-22. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
On Saturday, there was a derailment on the line. Reports are that the train which went off the rails on a bridge crossing a creek had three locomotives and twenty-seven cars. It was carrying Liquified Petroleum. None of those cars are reported to be leaking.
-
"Arctic Gateway reports fatal derailment on Hudson Bay Railway". Progressive Railroading. 2018-09-17. Archived from the original on 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
The train that derailed had three locomotives and several dozen rail cars, some of which were carrying liquefied petroleum. None of the cars were "compromised," said company officials.
-
"Derailed train that killed worker now leaking fuel into northern Manitoba river". Global News. 2018-09-19. Archived from the original on 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
The train was carrying cargo including gasoline, liquid propane gas and butane, but there has been no indication that any of that has spilled or leaked.
-
"Beavers may be responsible for fatal train derailment in northern Manitoba". Global News. 2018-09-20. Archived from the original on 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
A Transportation Safety Board investigator says beavers may have contributed to the train derailment in northern Manitoba that left one railway worker dead and another injured.
-
Christina Zhad (2018-09-21). "Busy beavers blamed for fatal train crash". Newsweek magazine. Archived from the original on 2018-10-19. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
A Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigator revealed that beavers were likely a contributing factor to a train derailment near Ponton, Manitoba, that resulted in the death of a railway worker.