Comments on: The first locomotive ever built by GMD in London after the locomotive division came into existence in 1950 was TH&B’s GP 7 #71, and it met an untimely fate at Webber Rd, a few miles west of Welland on Feb. 12, 1980. A loaded semi failed to stop and broadsided the locomotive, knocking it into the ditch. Fuel spills resulted in both the truck and locomotive catching fire. The railroad crew survived but the truck driver perished. This view is from the following morning, as a heavy crane positions itself to assist in the attempt to bring #71 back onto its feet; and later it was taken to Hamilton……..and eventually the scrapper.

By: Paul O'Shell

Paul O'Shell — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 22:37:24 +0000

The mobile crane is CP 414032, a Pettibone Model 220 RRC 110-ton capacity hi-rail wrecker, serial number 1106, built in 1976.

Marcus Stevens — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 18:52:41 +0000

Such a sad sight

Cdntrainphotog — Sat, 03 May 2014 16:47:40 +0000

Sad scene for sure.

James Adeney — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 01:01:02 +0000

I remember when this happened and we all waited with crossed fingers hoping it wasn’t 71. What were the odds?