Comments on: On Sunday, August 21st of 2016 Canadian Pacific train 235 collided with 118 at the Howland crossover in midtown Toronto just after 5am. CP 118 (taken away at time of the picture) was crossing over from the North to the South track at Howland crossover (the crossover pictured) while CP 235 was running light power (the 2 engines pictured) from CP’s Toronto Agincourt yard to either Spence Yard on the MacTier Subdivsion or straight to Lambton Yard on the Galt Subdivision to pick up their train and proceed west. The rumor is that CP 235 was not paying attention to their signals and came around the corner barreling at Howland at upwards of 50mph, ran the red block and side swiped the last 18 cars of 118′s train in the crossover. The results, a shaken up however okay crew, yet fired from further rail operations. I guess even the crossover’s name correlates with the accident.

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 01:52:44 +0000

ngineered4u; I think you missed my point. No this appears to be human error. However, I was referring to the broader issue of moving bulk hazardous cargo; the on going questions of crew rest that seem to be getting worse, the reductions in track maintenance staff. If you’re going to run 130 car oil trains through midtown Toronto, they’d better make sure that they’re looking after the plant; and their people. Because right now we have no idea of 235′s crew rest or if they just messed up. You’re right though; nothing is bullet proof.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 01:26:28 +0000

@Dave Brook… means that the railroads need to step up their safety game, pay more attention to the plant and the state of the crews? The derailment was caused by human error. It had nothing to do with the physical plant and so far we know NOTHING about the state of the crews.
If human beings are involved in any mode of transport there will always be a chance of an accident and since humans build computers, accidents can still happen. Period

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 21:30:09 +0000

Yes, it’s a minor thing in the big picture, but it’s major in that the result would be very different if they’d plowed into the side of an oil train at Dufferin and Bathurst. So in a sense, everyone is lucky. What Lisa Raitt understands about it you could write in foot high letters on the head of a pin, but with the movement of oil by rail, which I’m completely in favour if, means that the railroads need to step up their safety game, pay more attention to the plant and the state of the crews, and care just a little less about the stockholders. The bar has been raised.

By: snake

snake — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 20:57:39 +0000

the sad part about this – although a relatively minor mishap…the RR’s in Canada have become so politicized with Crude accidents…that this derailment has been on the national, business news, and local TV stations all day; I’ve seen Lisa Raitt on TV about it;..because it was in the heart of the city. Before 2012..it barely would have made page 5 of the paper, if that.

By: snake

snake — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 20:47:56 +0000

Marty Cej, CP Spokesman ( used to a BNN anchor ) already issued a stmt yesterday saying it was human error.

By: CNSD60F

CNSD60F — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 18:23:07 +0000

It is what I call “smashed GEVO”

Still where did they reroute?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 15:58:30 +0000

Maxim you’ve learned a valuable lesson. What people say… is just that, a rumour and subject to a LOT of BS

By: Maxim

Maxim — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 15:44:11 +0000

Guys, what I heard on the spot of the accident is what I wrote. Next time I’ll refrain from writing “rumours” or details.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 15:34:49 +0000

I totally agree with RLK2211!

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 15:15:11 +0000

Guys, you are welcome to dislike a caption but our youngest photographers don’t know any different nor do they understand the Grievance process.

Max is just young and ill informed and doesn’t know any better. Perhaps though he (and others) will learn a thing or two. Also, never trust what the media says , especially about Railroading.

I’m just glad no one got hurt. Let’s leave it at that