More details about a fatal train derailment that killed three men near Field, B.C. are beginning to trickle out.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released an update about its investigation into the fatal accident on Thursday (Feb. 6).
The update contains details about the circumstances of the accident, which occurred on Feb. 4, 2019, as well as factual information collected during the investigation.
To date, the investigation team has examined and collected all relevant data from the accident site, examined and photographed the wreckage and identified components that require further examination. Investigators have also collected electronic data from the locomotives, including communication with the train crews and conducted interviews.
They also examined the context of the derailment, such as weather conditions, maintenance and inspection records for the derailed cars, train handling and train performance. The investigation also looked at Field Hill train operations and the railway鈥檚 winter operating plan. The TSB did this by performing cold-weather and ship testing on 13 grain hopper cars recovered from the site.
They are also looking into the organization and safety culture and operational oversight, amongst other things.
鈥淐P fully supports an independent investigation into the Field derailment. In fact, such investigations are on-going, led by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC/Labour Canada),鈥� said Salem Woodrow, a spokesperson for CP rail in an emailed statement.
鈥淐P is open and willing to review the facts surrounding this event with the RCMP, the TSB and other authorized agencies and continues to cooperate fully.鈥�
The update from the federal agency, c
The derailment killed three men from Calgary, including conductor Dylan Paradis, engineer Andrew Dockrell and trainee Daniel Waldenberger-Bulmer.
In total, 99 of the train鈥檚 112 cars left the tracks as it came barrelling down the Spiral Tunnels out of control just east of Field.
The investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) found the train started to move despite the fact it had been stopped using its air brakes at Partridge, the last station prior to the entrance to the Upper Spiral Tunnel. The train was stopped for about three hours before it began to 鈥渕ove on its own.鈥�
The investigation also found that no hand brakes were applied to the train, which accelerated beyond the maximum track speed set at 20 mph, causing the train to derail. A new crew had also just boarded the train and were not yet ready to depart when it began to move.
The RCMP confirmed it will review the file after a seven-month long investigation by the CBC, which aired on Jan. 26, revealed evidence of a possible 鈥渃over up鈥� by the railway company.
CP Rail did not respond to an interview request at the time.
In response to the CBC investigation, TSB released a on Tuesday, Jan. 28, claiming the investigation was thorough and followed procedure.
