Main track collision : Canadian National Train 117 and an uncontrolled movement of 20 cars mile 122.9, CN Edson Subdivision near Edson, Alberta 12 August 1996.

Railway Occurrence Report

Report number R96C0172

At approximately 2331 MDT on 12 August 1996, westward CN freight train 117 and 20 runaway cars from Edson Yard collided head-on at Mile 122.9 of the CN Edson Subdivision at Yates. The fuel tanks on the first two locomotives of the train ruptured and the spilt fuel ignited, engulfing the crushed lead locomotive in flames. The damage was severe. The three occupants of the lead locomotive died. The Board determined that the runaway cars moved from Edson Yard down a grade and onto the main track because insufficient brake shoe force was achieved to overcome the force of gravity. With the removal of a derail at the east end of Edson Yard over five years earlier (about 1990), these cars were unobstructed in their movement onto the main track. The Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) at Edmonton did not recognize the unauthorized movement as runaway cars entering the main track and, because of this, did not take remedial action either to avert the collision or warn the crew of the pending collision