In 2013 the sole engineer on a crude oil train at the end of his
allowable operating hours set the air brakes on his train and
repaired to a hut for needful rest. While he was sleeping the idling
engine overheated causing a fire which was extinguished by local
firemen. Without notifying the owners or attempting to find the
engineer they shut down the unit that was powering the compressed air
for the brakes. When the brakes failed the train rolled downhill and
jumping the tracks caught fire incinerating downtown Magantic. So who
is responsible for this calamity? The engineer followed the rules in
good faith and lacking a backup engineer had little choice. The
train's owners have ceased to exist as a company.
As fuel oil becomes more expensive and profit margins tighter rail
lines cut corners. Single-man crews become all to often the norm.
Rail bed ballasts become unstable and aging railway ties rot, spikes
rust, and wear and tear on rails and their joints take their toll.
Rail line inspectors walk only so far from the nearest railway
crossing. Derailments occur all to often. In many cases rural level
railway crossings have only the most rudimentary warnings. You will
remember that on its maiden trip the ill-fated Turbo cut a transport
truck in two. A high-speed train from Montreal to Toronto could make
the trip in just over an hour downtown to downtown, a trip that in
today's environment takes 4 or 5 hours by air. But given present
conditions this is only a dream.
It was in Mulroney's era that our rail system was decimated. No rail
lines remain in PEI and little remain in NS. The narrow gauge Newfie
Bullet exists as a museum in St. John's its line a part of the Trans
Canada Trail. Although crude still travels to the Irving Refinery in
Saint John transport trucks clog our highways creating wear and tear
to replace the much more efficient rail transport.
