Dugald Train Disaster
Encyclopedia
The Dugald rail accident was a railway accident that occurred on September 1, 1947 in Dugald, Manitoba
, Canada
, ending the lives of 31 people.
, had been given orders at Malachi, Ontario
, 100 miles (160.9 km) east of Winnipeg
to meet Canadian National Railways train No. 4, the eastbound Continental Limited at Vivian. These orders were changed subsequently, so that the meeting point was relocated 16 miles (25.7 km) westward, for a meet at Dugald, 14 miles (22.5 km) east of Winnipeg. These second orders had been received at Elma.
Extra 6001 was composed of U-1-a
class locomotive 6001, two steel baggage cars, nine wooden gas-illuminated coaches, and two steel parlor cars. After the collision, the wooden carriages of the vacation train caught fire. Strict rationing
of steel during World War II
had resulted in old wooden cars being kept in service until newer cars could be purchased. The collision began a series of events that caused fires fueled by compressed gas from broken lines and tanks on the wood coaches that gutted the wooden cars and set fire to oil tanks near the tracks. With the exception of the engineer and fireman of Extra 6001, who were killed by the initial collision, the fatalities of this incident were caused by the fire. No fatalities occurred in the vacation train's two rear cars or on the Continental Limited.
, which implied that the track ahead was clear, and that the Continental Limited’s dimming of its headlamp while waiting in the station lessened its visibility to the oncoming vacation train. This resulted in both the acquisition of modern rail cars and the improvement of rules regarding operations on the line.
Dugald, Manitoba
Dugald is a community in Manitoba, Canada, 22 km east of Winnipeg. It was the site of a railway accident in 1947.It is located in the rural municipality of Springfield.Dugald is the birthplace of former NHL goaltender Trevor Kidd....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, ending the lives of 31 people.
Scene
A westbound train, Passenger Extra 6001 West, a seasonal excursion service carrying vacationers from the Minaki region of Northwestern OntarioNorthwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. Its western boundary is the Canadian province of Manitoba, which disputed Ontario's claim to the...
, had been given orders at Malachi, Ontario
Malachi, Ontario
Malachi is an unincorporated place and community in Unorganized Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is also the name of the surrounding geographic township.Malachi railway station is in the community...
, 100 miles (160.9 km) east of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
to meet Canadian National Railways train No. 4, the eastbound Continental Limited at Vivian. These orders were changed subsequently, so that the meeting point was relocated 16 miles (25.7 km) westward, for a meet at Dugald, 14 miles (22.5 km) east of Winnipeg. These second orders had been received at Elma.
Collision and fire
By the Train order operation rules then in use, Extra 6001 would have to use the siding at the east switch of Dugald. The conductor of the train reminded the engineer of the Dugald stop one or two miles beforehand, by the air signal line, and received the proper acknowledgement. However, Extra 6001, contrary to orders, failed to enter the siding at the east switch, which resulted in a head-on collision with the stationary eastbound train number 4, the Continental Limited at 9:44 p.m. at approximately 30 miles per hour (13.4 m/s).Extra 6001 was composed of U-1-a
CN U-1-a and U-1-b
The CN U-1-a and U-1-b class locomotives were two subclasses of thirty-seven 4-8-2 Mountain-type steam locomotives built for the Canadian National Railways between 1923 and 1924. They were retired between 1951 and 1962.-Construction history:...
class locomotive 6001, two steel baggage cars, nine wooden gas-illuminated coaches, and two steel parlor cars. After the collision, the wooden carriages of the vacation train caught fire. Strict rationing
Rationing
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services. Rationing controls the size of the ration, one's allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time.- In economics :...
of steel during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
had resulted in old wooden cars being kept in service until newer cars could be purchased. The collision began a series of events that caused fires fueled by compressed gas from broken lines and tanks on the wood coaches that gutted the wooden cars and set fire to oil tanks near the tracks. With the exception of the engineer and fireman of Extra 6001, who were killed by the initial collision, the fatalities of this incident were caused by the fire. No fatalities occurred in the vacation train's two rear cars or on the Continental Limited.
Inquiry
An inquiry blamed the crew of the vacationers' train for failing to obey orders. The inquiry also determined that the crew's error had been precipitated by their seeing a clear signalRailway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
, which implied that the track ahead was clear, and that the Continental Limited’s dimming of its headlamp while waiting in the station lessened its visibility to the oncoming vacation train. This resulted in both the acquisition of modern rail cars and the improvement of rules regarding operations on the line.