It will take upwards of a week to clean-up a train derailment south of Grafton on Saturday, December 24, 2022.
On Saturday morning, Alnwick/Haldimand Township Fire Chief Dave Dawson was notified at approximately 11:45 a.m. of a derailment just east of Station Road, south of Grafton.
Dawson told Today’s Northumberland that a CN freight train had come off the railway tracks as a result of a “switch malfunction.”
“Due to that there ended up being another train that was parked and the trains kind of “rubbed shoulders,” so to speak.”
In total 30 CN rail cars derailed including one that was classified as hazardous materials that collided with an engine.
“However we’re told that is just food source organic’s.”
No one was injured from the derailment, but Dawson said it will be a “significant clean-up.”
The only crossing that is affected is Station Road south of Grafton.
Dawson said he’s confident CN Officials were get the crossing as soon as possible, but for clean-up from the derailment it will likely take upwards of seven days.
Dawson also spoke about how busy firefighters have been due to the severe weather conditions.
“The storm has had a major impact everywhere.”
“With the 401 being a major travel sources, it’s been closed down at least twice for a significant period of time and that has put a ton of people into the communities.”
Dawson said the best advise is to stay home until the storm passes.
“You can wish people a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukah, a Happy New Year after December 25 when the storm pulls out.”
“The best advice is stay home. Pick up the phone. Use voice mail, use video, use anything you have. Set-up a Zoom call. We’ve been doing it for the last many years. Most of all stay safe, stay alive, stay off the roads.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
