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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).
Copyright Notice: This image ©Reg Button Collection; Collection of Bob Bratina all rights reserved.



Caption: 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).

Photographer:
Reg Button Collection; Collection of Bob Bratina [22] (more) (contact)
Date: 04/27/1944 (search)
Railway: Toronto Hamilton and Buffalo (search)
Reporting Marks: THB 49 (search)
Train Symbol: N/A (search)
Subdivision/SNS: TH&B Belt Line - Beach Road (search)
City/Town: Hamilton (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
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Photo ID: 40462

Map courtesy of Open Street Map

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

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

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

    So this is the location?

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

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