UPDATE: CP Rail crews work through the night to re-open line
By Nelson Daily Staff
Canadian Pacific Rail crews worked feverously through the night to clear the derailment of a westbound train near the Fortis BC Corra Linn Dam next to the Kootenay River.
Tuesday morning, a westbound freight train left the tracks causing all four locomotives and eight concentrator cars to derail.
After quickly assessing the accident scene, CP crews went to work trying to re-open the track, which provides materials and supplies to Teck Cominco in Trail and Castlegar’s Zellstoff Celgar Pulp.
Crews, after fixing track in front of the accident, attempted to put the lead engine back on the tracks, but failed in their attempt.
Meanwhile trucks hauled in gravel for excavators to build level roads on each side the engines so machines brought in from the United States can lift the locomotives back onto the tracks.
The goal is to re-track all four locomotives before dealing with the mangled concentrate cars containing ore for Teck Cominco in behind the engines.
CP Rail officials hope to have the line re-opened in a few days.
The derailment happened at approximately 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
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.
Sunday, CP Rail line was re-opened six kilometers east of Atbara after a rockslide derailed one locomotive and a flat car transporting an excavator Friday afternoon.
The excavator still sits in water on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake.
No one was injured in either derailment.
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