Comments on: April 27, 1944 finds TH&B 0-6-0 49, built by CLC Kingston, 1918, returning to Kinnear Yard after working on the Belt Line. On the return trip the train struck a truck at the Beach Road crossing, just west of Ottawa Street and immediately north of the CNR Grimsby Sub overpass. The resulting derailment caused the locomotive to tear up the ground, striking a propane gas line, and causing a flash explosion with flames reported in excess of 40 feet. The engineer, Clarence Kappler, received fatal injuries pinned between the locomotive and tender.TH&B 49 would continue in TH&B service until 1950, when it was sold to Dominion Foundries & Steel for switching duties. Other photos from this day show the crowds surrounding the scene, both at TH&B level and above on the Grimsby Sub, watching a TH&B crane arrive on scene to clear the mess. The crane came from Hamilton’s north end. Kept down at Adam’s Yard? The only TH&B cranes seen on this site are X-755 (Built 1952 – American Hoist & Derrick – 30 ton capacity) and X766 (Built 1954 – Industrial Brownhoist – 250 ton capacity).

By: TMike

TMike — Mon, 06 May 2024 23:25:23 +0000

Look how close the onlookers (kids!) are to the wreck! Railway police would have a heart attack if that happened today.
Nowadays no-one would be with 500 feet(probably more).

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 02:42:51 +0000

That is the location. Confirmed by newspaper reports and other images in the set.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 02:23:11 +0000

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=39038

So this is the location?

By: PRR5406

PRR5406 — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 22:43:48 +0000

Exceptional report on a typically horrific end for a steam engineer. Sad story but good contribution.

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 21:11:51 +0000

*Note: Steam crane number can just be made out in other print as X-76x. Final digit obscured by cab door.