Chronology
Every dated history fact across the site, in date order. Precision varies — some dates are just a year — so ordering within a year is approximate. Showing locations.
| Date | Subject | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-07-12≥ | Moose Creek | By 12 July 1988 (the issue date), the paper reported: Albert Houle, 79, "died after being hit by a train Monday afternoon": police believed he "suffered from severe hearing loss" and did not hear the train; "there are warning lights and bells" though no barriers, the tracks being "just down the street from the retirement home at 250 Labrosse St". | Ottawa Citizen 1988-07-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1989 | Barrys Bay | Barry's Bay Railway Station Restoration Committee organized to restore station. | leader |
| 1989-07-24≥ | Eastmans | By 24 July 1989 (the issue date), the paper reported: Larry Cashman, 31, an off-duty Gloucester firefighter of Carlsbad Springs, "was killed Sunday afternoon when his pickup truck was hit by a train near Carlsbad Springs": southbound on Sand Road, three kilometres east of Carlsbad Springs, his vehicle "was struck by a VIA Rail passenger train" heading west. "There are no warning lights or gates at the level crossing... It is marked by two signs." The National Transportation Agency investigated; Garry McLaughlin said on 3 August that the truck had air conditioning and its windows were up. | Ottawa Citizen 1989-07-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1989-07-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1989-07-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1989-08-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1989-11-20≥ | Vars | By 20 November 1989 (the issue date), the paper reported: Keith MacIsaac, 27, of Gloucester, "was travelling southbound alone on Rockdale Road at John Street and Division Street at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning when he saw railway crossing lights flashing", braked on wet snow and ice and "slam[med] into the side of the train" at Vars. "The front of MacIsaac's 1987 Chevrolet sedan was sheared in half at the dashboard"; he suffered a severe head cut and knee injuries. The firefighters who responded remembered the July 23 death of Gloucester fireman Cashman "at Vars", and "Both train collisions happened only a couple of concessions apart on the same line of track at Vars." | The Star 1989-11-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1990-06-11≥ | Alexandria | By 11 June 1990 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Two Lancaster-area residents died at about 10:30 a.m." Sunday "when their car was hit by a passenger train, about 90 kilometres east of Ottawa": Lori MacDonell, 20, and Keith McDonell, 23, were killed "as they attempted to cross the CN Rail tracks on Massie Road about four km east of Alexandria". The railway warning sign at the crossing "had been broken off by vandals just hours before the accident", the Lochiel Township roads superintendent said; the Ottawa-bound VIA Rail train was coming from Montreal. The crossing "has been the scene of two previous collisions in recent years", in 1987 and 1989. | Ottawa Citizen 1990-06-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1990-06-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1991-02-25≥ | Vars | By 25 February 1991 (the issue date), the paper reported: A mentally handicapped woman, Carol Louise Greene, 51, of the Gregoire Residence in Vars, "was hit and killed Sunday by a passenger train in Vars", about noon; the residence manager said she and another resident "were walking along the tracks... and became confused when they heard the approaching train's whistle". The tracks run about 70 metres from the residence. | Ottawa Citizen 1991-02-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1991-02-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1992-02-18 | Glen Robertson | "On February 18, two LRC coaches on Ottawa-Montreal Train 34 derailed at speed at Glen Robertson, Ontario, when an axle broke. Fortunately there were no injuries." The derailments, with one at Ottawa in 1991, led VIA to step up axle testing of LRC rolling stock on recommendations of the Transportation Safety Board. | Canadian Press 1992-03-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1992-08-25 | Moose Creek | A VIA Rail passenger train, train 31 from Montreal, "slammed broadside into the van at 145 kilometres an hour" at a level crossing on Hwy. 138, about 30 kilometres north of Cornwall, at 8:45 a.m. Of eight people in the van, "Lynn Lalande, 24, of Kanata and Kelly Harris, 29, of Orleans died in the crash." "Flashing lights and warning signals were operating for 22 seconds before the van loaded with eight people drove into the train's path." "There have been two other fatal crashes at that crossing since 1981." The driver, Abdul Nasser Jabbari, was charged, and on 30 June 1993 a judge fined him $1,000 for careless driving. | Ottawa Citizen 1992-08-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1992-08-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1992-10-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-07-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1993-09-17≥ | Casselman | By 17 September 1993 (the issue date), the paper reported: Wilmer Urquhart, 65, of Maxville, "was in hospital Thursday after his pick-up truck was hit by an Ottawa-bound VIA passenger train near Casselman": he "was stopped at a crossing on county road 3, about two kilometres west of Casselman, when the train clipped the front of the truck". He was taken by air ambulance to Ottawa General Hospital. | Ottawa Citizen 1993-09-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1993-10-24 | Casselman | "On October 24, two Ontario Provincial Police officers were killed when their cruiser was struck by VIA's Ottawa-Montreal Train 34 at a protected crossing in Casselman." Constables Richard Jean, 23, and Alain Desforges, 30, "died at the scene": driving west on St Isidore Street at about 3:15 p.m., they attempted to cross the tracks "although red warning lights were flashing"; the Montreal-bound train dragged the cruiser half a kilometre and was held for about four hours, none of its 80 passengers injured. Investigators found no evidence they were answering an emergency call and could not say what caused the crash. | Montreal Gazette 1993-10-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-10-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-10-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-10-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-10-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1993-11-25≤ | Casselman | From 25 November 1993 (the issue date), the paper announced: "CN Rail is proposing crossing barriers at an intersection in Casselman where two police officers were killed in an October train crash." Village clerk Gilles Lortie said "the plan calls for barriers at St. Isidore Street and Dollard Street", a third barrier at Cartier Street or the closure of the road being studied; the village would vote by Dec. 6. | Ottawa Citizen 1993-11-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1995-12-18≥ | Casselman | By 18 December 1995 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A Casselman-area man was in hospital with serious injuries late Sunday after the car he was driving collided with a VIA passenger train in Casselman, 50 kilometres east of Ottawa": the westbound train hit his car "at a level crossing on Segault Road at 12:23 p.m." | Ottawa Citizen 1995-12-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1996-07-03≥ | Vars | By 3 July 1996 (the issue date), the paper reported: Joey MacRillo, 37, "a resident of a nursing home in the hamlet of Vars, died after being hit by a westbound VIA train at about 7:30 p.m." on Tuesday, in Cumberland Township; "At the time he was standing on the tracks, apparently aware of the oncoming train, police said." | Ottawa Citizen 1996-07-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1997-05-20≥ | Alexandria | By 20 May 1997 (the issue date), the paper reported: "An unidentified male pedestrian died last evening. He was struck by a train near Alexandria at about 7 p.m." The OPP later identified him as Stephane Daoust, 24, of St-Bernardin, "walking on the tracks at about 6:30 p.m." when "fatally struck" by a Montreal-bound VIA passenger train on Monday night; "Mr. Daoust did not react to the train's horn." | Ottawa Citizen 1997-05-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1997-05-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1997-07-13≥ | Vars | By 13 July 1997 (the issue date), the paper reported: The Ontario Provincial Police sought help in a shooting at a CN Rail freight train in Vars on Wednesday evening: "someone shot at a Montreal-bound train between Main Street and Devine Road at about 8:30 p.m. A bullet fired from south of the train entered the locomotive, narrowly missing the engineer's head. There were no injuries." | Ottawa Citizen 1997-07-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1998 | Barrys Bay | Group from Barry's Bay Railway Station Restoration Committee decided to preserve water tower. | leader |
| 1998-08-15≥ | Eastmans | By 15 August 1998 (the issue date), the paper reported: A police pursuit near Carlsbad Springs on Friday ended with a stolen car stuck on "the CN railway tracks that intersect the road" at Hall Road, off Russell Road, about 500 metres along the tracks: "the 10:15 VIA passenger train from Montreal to Ottawa with 123 people aboard came rumbling over the hill... The train hit both the police cruiser and the stolen car. Both vehicles were complete writeoffs. Nobody on the train was hurt." The tracks were cleared shortly after 3 p.m. and the train arrived in Ottawa before 3:30 p.m. | Ottawa Citizen 1998-08-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2000-03-31≥ | Maxville | By 31 March 2000 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A man was killed near Maxville last night when he was struck by a VIA Rail train enroute from Montreal to Ottawa"; the train was delayed for an OPP investigation and passengers were sent to Ottawa by bus. | Ottawa Citizen 2000-03-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2000-10-18 | Barrys Bay | Water tower has been restored, now part of park. | leader |
| 2000-12-18≥ | Vars | By 18 December 2000 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A 39-year-old Vars woman is dead after being struck by a Montreal-bound VIA Rail train, yesterday": the incident "happened in a wooded area several hundred metres from any road or crossing, between Frank Kenny Road and Bearbrook Road in Vars". "Town residents assumed the warning bells on the tracks were stuck again, until police and firefighters arrived." The train continued its journey at about 5:55 p.m. | Ottawa Citizen 2000-12-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2002-06-05≥ | Vars | By 5 June 2002 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A resident of the Vars area in her 40s died early yesterday morning when she was hit by a freight train." "Ottawa police say the woman was walking on the railway right of way when she was struck by the train at about 2:55 a.m." Foul play was not suspected. | Ottawa Citizen 2002-06-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2005-05-03≥ | Maxville | By 3 May 2005 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A railway car carrying ethanol, a volatile flammable liquid, bumped another car and broke open, leaking gas into an area behind the seniors residence" in the Maxville rail yard just before 3 a.m. yesterday. About 200 residents, including 120 of the Maxville Manor, were evacuated to the sports complex; "Maxville Mayor Bill Franklin declared the area in a state of emergency about 5 a.m." and regional roads 20 and 22 were closed. Rail workers transferred the ethanol to another tanker; residents returned about 1 p.m. VIA cancelled trains between Montreal and Ottawa, affecting about 330 passengers. | Ottawa Citizen 2005-05-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2006-01-18≥ | Maxville | By 18 January 2006 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The township of North Glengarry has learned that it is facing an arbitrary 'deductible' of $96,000 before the province will help pay for the costs of the Maxfield train derailment emergency which happened last May": "an Ottawa Central Railway tanker containing ethanol was derailed and started leaking its contents". Council voted to accept an offer from Ottawa Central Rail of $23,410.59 toward the township's costs, $4,207.98 short of its invoice. | Eastern Ontario Review 2006-01-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2006-08-02≥ | Vankleek Hill | By 2 August 2006 (the issue date), the paper reported: A Prescott Russell Trails vehicle "was brought to a halt recently by an Ottawa Central Railway (OCR) flag man" on the trail "just east of Highway 34 near Vankleek Hill", where the OCR tracks cross the trail. OCR general manager James Allen said heavy equipment could not cross without a flag man "at a cost of about $1,000 the first 8-hour day, and $800 for each subsequent day", under the Railway Safety Act. | Eastern Ontario Review 2006-08-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2007-08-15≥ | Vars | By 15 August 2007 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A man was killed after being struck by a train in east rural Ottawa yesterday." Ottawa police said he was struck by a Montreal-bound VIA train "between Rockland and Devine roads just after 7 a.m."; the train, with 96 passengers, was held on the single-track corridor and a second train from Montreal was stopped. | Ottawa Citizen 2007-08-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2007-09-08≥ | Eastmans | By 8 September 2007 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Ottawa police and VIA Rail investigators are looking for someone who tampered with rail traffic signalling lights and crossing barriers in the city's east end. Twice within the past two weeks, items that cause the barriers to malfunction... were put on the tracks at Boundary Road and Eighth Line Road. OPP recently investigated a similar incident at Casselman." | Ottawa Citizen 2007-09-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2008-07-31≤ | Eastmans | From 31 July 2008 (the issue date), the paper announced: VIA Rail planned to invest more than $25M to modernize its rail infrastructure between Ottawa and Montreal. In the first phase "upgrades to the Ottawa-Montreal line will include the addition of a 0.76-km long passing track approximately 16 kilometres east of Ottawa, near Carlsbad Springs", with remote-controlled power switches tied into the Centralized Traffic Control system. | Canada Newswire 2008-07-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2009-02-18≥ | Vankleek Hill | By 18 February 2009 (the issue date), the paper reported: Residents of Vankleek Hill complained about "the noise and smell of diesel" from idling trains kept at the base of the hill near the industrial park. CN's Ottawa Central Railway division said "CN trains without block heaters must be left idling until the ambient temperature outside is above 10 degrees Celsius"; at a meeting on February 17 Champlain councillor Paul Emile Duval gave CN "a week" for a solution, though CN said it was "much more looking at a solution for next fall". On 9 March MP Pierre Lemieux wrote to CN about a petition of almost 300 names; by 28 October Mayor Gary Barton said CN had assured him "they wouldn't be there this fall". | Eastern Ontario Review 2009-02-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Eastern Ontario Review 2009-03-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Eastern Ontario Review 2009-10-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2009-03-31 | Vankleek Hill | "On Tuesday March 31 at about 7:40 a freight train operated by Ottawa Central Railway, a division of CN rail, passed over highway 34 and derailed." Three freight cars slipped off the tracks, no one was hurt, and the train, carrying steel coils from Ivaco Rolling Mills, was going about 16 km an hour; "The train derailed due to the track conditions," said J.C. Santerre, the local manager. Crews rerailed it about 4:30 on Wednesday. | Eastern Ontario Review 2009-04-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2014-03-03≥ | Alexandria | By 3 March 2014 (the issue date), the paper reported: "An extra locomotive on a VIA Rail train caught fire Sunday afternoon just east of Ottawa": the train, No. 57 from Montreal, stalled at Canyon Concession Road near Alexandria around 4 p.m. and was moving again at 6:30 p.m.; the locomotive, "non-operational and just being pulled by the train", was extinguished by Alexandria's fire department. | CFRA 2014-03-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2019-10-20≥ | Casselman | By 20 October 2019 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Casselman Mayor Daniel Lafleur is calling for a pilot project that would see more Via Rail trains stop in the eastern Ontario town during the morning and afternoon rush hour"; the village is "in talks with Via Rail to expand train service between the eastern Ontario community and Ottawa during morning and evening rush hour". Via said it would be discussed as part of ongoing plans to improve rail service in Ontario and Quebec. | CBC News 2019-10-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2022-10-24 | Eastmans | "Train 38 was travelling from Ottawa to Montreal when it struck a vehicle parked on the tracks" shortly after 19:00 on Monday "near the intersection of Piperville and Boundary roads in the Carlsbad Springs area"; "the train dragged the vehicle east about 1,500 metres before stopping". Neither the one person in the car nor the 117 train passengers were injured; the vehicle was on the tracks due to "driver error", Ottawa police said. | CBC News 2022-10-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 2022-10-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2023-05-28 | Alexandria | "More than 200 passengers were stuck on a VIA train near Alexandria for several hours Sunday evening, after a mechanical issue stopped the train." "VIA says train 37 stopped approximately 'half a mile away from the Alexandria station' due to an engine failure", with 210 passengers aboard from Montreal to Ottawa; train 39 pushed it to Alexandria station and towed it to Ottawa. | CTV News 2023-05-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2023-08-16 | Barrys Bay | Frank Burchat unveiled a plaque "in the middle of nowhere... on a lonely stretch of the old Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound railroad bed, just north of where he now lives along Carson Lake", for a young railroader killed there "114 years ago to the day, at exactly 9:15 p.m. Monday, August 16th, 1909": 20-year-old William J. Thurston of Madawaska. About 25 people attended, eight of them his relatives. Burchat, with divers, the OPP Search and Recovery Unit and the Gignac Dive Team, had searched Carson Lake for a rumoured sunken engine and concluded "there is no train in the water." | Eganville Leader 2023-08-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
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