UPDATE: CP Rail line north of Atbara re-opens Sunday, excavator remains in Kootenay Lake as environmental experts determine best way to removed equipment without damaging area
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Canadian Pacific Kootenay Valley 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.
CP Rail spokesperson Ed Greenberg told The Nelson Daily crews worked Sunday to remove a second locomotive that was derailed due to Friday’s rock slide.
“The second locomotive has been rerailed and moved out of the area,” Greenberg said. “Then once necessary track repairs and mandatory inspections were completed the line was reopened earlier (Sunday).”
The rail line was closed Friday afternoon when a rock slide derailed a work train heading east. The train consisted of two locomotives and a flat car which was carrrying an excavator.
The train was believed to be heading to clear an earlier avalanche on the line.
However, six kilometers east of Atbara a rock slide hit the train forcing one of the locomotives off the track and the flat car carrying the excavator over the bank. The excavator ended up in Kootenay Lake.
“Now with the line reopened, plans are being developed to safely rerail the flat car and remove the excavator,” Greenberg explained.
“As safety is paramount, our officials will now take the necessary time to put in place the appropriate precautions before moving forward.”
Greenberg said CP’s environmental experts continue to monitor the area where the excavator sits and there are still no leaks evident.
“In saying that, we continue to monitor the area and have precautions in place around the machine to ensure the environment is not impacted. This includes the use of containment booms,” he said.
It’s been a busy time in the West Kootenay for CP Rail.
A few weeks ago track near Genelle became suspect after runoff from the bank above began washing out the track below.
Greenberg said work crews have been dumping riprap to reinforce the rail line.
Earlier story:
Derailment closes CP Rail line near Atbara, excavator falls into West Arm of Kootenay Lake
The Canadian Pacific Kootenay Valley rail line between Nelson and Creston remains closed Saturday evening due to a train derailment Friday afternoon six kilometers east of Atbara on Kootenay Lake.
At approximately 3 p.m. a work train, consisting of CPR locomotives were transporting a flat deck car with an excavator aboard.
The small train was struck by a rock slide, knocking the flat deck rail car off the tracks and the excavator to fall into West Arm of Kootenay Lake.
One of the locomotives was not damaged and has since been removed.
Equipment has been brought in from Cranbrook to lift the other locomotive onto the tracks for removal.
No one was injured in the derailment.
“There is no harm or risk to the public,” said Ed Greenberg, spokesperson for CP Rail.
Greenberg said CP Rail dispatched an environmental expert to the derailment site to monitor any leaking of diesel fuel from the excavator and method for removal from the West Arm of Kootenay Lake.
Greenberg said crews will not be working through the night and will return to the derailment site early Sunday to begin removal of the flat deck car and excavator.
The accident remains under investigation.
In 1995 the lead locomotive of a westward Canadian Pacific freight train struck fallen rock on the track at Mile 111 on the Nelson Subdivision near Procter.
Three locomotives and the first two cars behind the locomotives derailed and plunged down a 125-foot rock cliff into Kootenay Lake.
The locomotive engineer and a trainman drowned.
The conductor suffered minor injuries.
Read the full report by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada at http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/1995/r95v0017/r95v0017.asp
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