(Courtesy: Patrick Fabian)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

UPDATED

Trains running through Brooks again after 17-car derailment

Feb 6, 2024 | 3:15 PM

Trains are moving through a Brooks railway again after debris from a derailment was cleared from the tracks Tuesday.

A Canadian Pacific Kansas City train was travelling westward on the main line parallel to Railway Avenue when 17 cars went off the tracks, according to the Transportation Safety Board.

The train was travelling at about 90 kilometres an hour before the cars buckled shortly before 4:30 p.m., sending up a plume of dirt and snow, witnesses told CHAT News.

The incident was confined to railway property and did not create lasting road closures, officials said.

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

13h ago

POSTAL STRIKE

Donations to Medicine Hat non-profits drop over Canada Post strike

13h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

21h ago

Brooks Mayor John Petrie said it was largely consumer goods on the train and there also was no danger of a major chemical spill.

Petrie was in a council meeting with fire department officials when the derailment occurred.

“If there was any great emergency, they would have told us right away,” he said.

TSB did not report any injuries.

‘A SURREAL EXPERIENCE’

Linsey Hafso was driving beside the train on Railway Avenue as she travelled home from work.

She matched the speed of the train and noticed it was travelling at about 90 kilometres an hour.

Shortly after, the cars in the middle derailed and fell over, Hafso said.

“It was a surreal experience,” she told CHAT News.

Soon after, Hafso pulled over and called emergency services.

At least one ambulance had arrived by the time she departed the scene about 20 minutes later.

Hafso said she saw one of the engineers get out of the front engine a few minutes after the derailment and walk towards the wreckage.

The railway is a track she’s driven beside many times before. But on Monday, the speed of the train caught Hafso’s eye.

“I drive that road everyday coming home from work. It was beside me and I was just watching it… I thought trains had to slow down when they went through towns,” she said.

It was seconds later when dirt and snow went flying, Hafso said.