CP Rail train derails west of Nelson, no one hurt
By Bruce Fuhr
For the second time in less than a week a Canadian Pacific Rail line in the West Kootenay has been closed.
At approximately 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, a westbound CPR train on the Kootenay Valley Rail line derailed above the Fortis BC Corra Linn power plant.
The train was rounding a corner near the Fortis BC plant when the crew noticed the train was leaving its rails. The engineer immediately dynamited the train brakes, which cause all four locomotives and eight concentrator cars to derail.
A witness close to the derailment said he heard loud noise as the train rounded corner.
“All (engines and cars) are upright,” said CPR spokesperson Ed Greenberg. “Nothing is leaking from the cars.”
Both members of the train crew were in the first engine and walked away from the accident.
“There is no injuries (and) no risk to the public or environment,” Greenberg said. “The cause is under investigation.”
Greenberg said the train consisted of 67 cars.
The Nelson Daily has learned that 19 concentrator cars were added to train’s original manifest Tuesday morning.
Those cars were placed at the front of the train behind the engines and in front of other tanker cars, some carrying highly toxic product.
Greenberg gave no timetable for the cleanup operations to be completed.
“Our concern is to always ensure the site is safe and the necessary steps are taken during the clean-up operation.”
The CP rail line between Nelson and Creston re-opened Sunday afternoon following a train derailment Friday that closed the track and sent an excavator into the West Arm of Kootenay Lake.
While the eastbound work train was heading to another problem Friday afternoon, a rockslide six kilometers east of Atbara knocked part of the train off the track. The train consisted of two locomotives and a flat car ,which was transporting an excavator.
Greenberg said the excavator sits in three to four feet of water and is not leaking.
“We’re still finalizing plans to remove (excavator) but that may not happen until later this week or early next week,” Greenberg said.
“We need to ensure the necessary manpower is in place before we remove it.”
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