Comments on: Witnessing probably the biggest train derailment that ever happened in Simcoe, a couple of spectators watch the cleanup from the backyard of their home. Eastbound N&W train, loaded with new autos, went off the tracks, with lead unit going off the overpass at Norfolk St., resulting in the deaths of two crew members. Damage was over a million dollars, and lets not forget these are 1975 dollars. Priority for the cleanup crew was getting the line open, and in public areas the crowds were entertained watching rail cars getting thrown around, and my take was that this incident saved a lot of people from owning Pintos. There were two private driveways in which I could shoot from; sadly enough, the next door drive featured a guy leaning on his new Pinto wagon watching all those others get thrown around like they were worthless. One could only imagine what was going thru his mind. I elected to submit this photo because, well, the scenery was better.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 12:35:48 +0000

Thanks for the commentary, Ronald. Wow!! Looking in on a posting that has been up for 9 years. ) You must get a lot of memories out of going thru RP photos. Hope most of them are pleasant.

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 03:05:13 +0000

Here I am still discovering your photos years later Arnold. With regard to note 4, R. Smith’s comments about tie downs, I believe many autos being shipped are now just “chocked” with out tie downs.
I was always told that any auto involved in a wreck was destroyed or at least not sold to anyone for other than parts.

Thinking about the derailment, I was working the night Woodstock Tillsonburg roadswitcher the night that accident happened. WE usually met that train at the “Loop Line Transfer” as he sometimes had cars for us. The brakeman I was paired with was the son of an N&W hogger and since we didn’t talk to the N&W crew, he didn’t know if his dad was on that train until later. We had heard about the wreck before leaving Tillsonburg and he was able to call home from the station to ease his fears.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 14:02:14 +0000

http://www.simcoereformer.ca/2015/06/12/deadly-crash-40-years-later

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 21:20:08 +0000

I hope ya don’t find it. I always looked like that. It was probably a complex I developed when everyone kept saying “Oh oh, Mooney here. The clouds will be right behind.”

By: snake

snake — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 21:07:36 +0000

you should ! just think how many stars you’ll get. Dammit..still trying to find that pic of you with that…that…look of “gadzzz..look what crawled out of the gutter “

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 21:01:49 +0000

Maybe I should just post a photo of that old heap I used to drive, Snake. Then you would stop looking for it. )

By: snake

snake — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 11:17:47 +0000

Look…..very carefully look….top right….3rd automobile from the right…that’s Mooney’s car from the 1980′s !!

By: MrDan

MrDan — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 00:24:58 +0000

At least they didn’t explode when the train derailed, being Pintos and all

By: rsmith

rsmith — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 00:03:15 +0000

I’m impressed with the strength of the tie downs! Every car is still right where it should be on the racks.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 19:14:30 +0000

And I believe you are right. The Cayuga Sub. I’d better get that changed……..