The GAUX Dispatcher

The Story Of The 1987 CN Nepisiguit Sub Runaway Train

The Location:

Nepisiguit Junction is on the New Brunswick East Coast mainline just outside Bathurst (mile 106.4). It is the junction of the mainline with the Nepisiguit Subdivision, a 14.7 mile spur to the Brunswick Mines facility.

The Junction features a wye, a siding and an industry. The siding is off the main line. The siding forms the base of the wye, with the line to Brunswick Mines forming the tail. The industry is St. Lawrence Cement, off a short spur off the Brunswick Mines line.

Unit trains 586 and 587 transport ore (containing zinc) between Brunswick Mines and Belledune via the junction five days a week. The junction also sees the New Brunswick East Coast trains 402 and 403, and VIA 14 and 15 (the Ocean), pass by on the main line.

A view from the Nepisiguit Subdivision, just off the wye. The track curving to the right
goes to St. Lawrence Cement, the line straight ahead goes into the wye.

The sharp curve in the distance is where the runaway CN freight derailed
at the end of its journey from Brunswick Mines.

The Event:

On March 9, 1987, a well-known derailment occurred here when a runaway CN train journeyed from Brunswick Mines to just short of the wye. There was a mixup in communications and engineer Wesley MacDonald ended up with more cars on his train than he thought, and the brakes on the engine alone were unable to hold the consist on the grade in the Brunswick Mines yard.

After a harrowing journey at speeds up to 70 mph the engines (9457 leading, followed by 9548) derailed on the sharp curve into the wye at Nepisiguit Junction. Both units and most of the 30-car train derailed, but miraculously the engineer was not seriously injured.

Engineer Wes MacDonald on the afternoon of the derailment,
shortly after being released from the hospital.

The Engineer’s Statement:

“On the date in question I was ordered as locomotive engineer on Work Extra 9548 from Bathurst for 0530. I reported for duty at 0500 and after reporting for duty read and signed bulletins in bulletin book and picked up the train register check from conductor and compared railway grade watches with conductor an standard clock. I then proceeded to shop track with trainmen to pick up units and caboose.”

“I ensured that proper brake test was made on units prior to leaving. Diesel units and caboose proceeded from shop track to main line and then to station at Bathurst. At station test of train brakes was made and brakes were found to be operating properly. A test was also made of radios and one was found to have a defective mike which was replaced.”

“I then received copy of MBS clearance along with bulletins from conductor permitting us to operate on the Nepisiguit Subdivision. Train departed from Bathurst at 0627 with 0 loads, 30 equated tons and proceeded to Brunswick Mines via the Nepisiguit Subdivision without incident.”

“On arrival at Brunswick Mines stop was made prior to entry onto their property to secure permission from security of that company by telephone as per Item 2.2 in the Nepisiguit Subdivision Footnotes on page 113 of Timetable No. 90. After permission was received train entered Brunswick Mines’ property to perform necessary switching and the make up of our train.”

“Our first move was to drop the van on the main track which was then moved into tract B-221 by loader from Brunswick Mines. We then moved into track B-226 to pick up loads from that track. We then reversed an proceeded into track B-225 to pick up loads there. We then reversed and proceeded into track B-224 to pick up the remainder. Reverse movement was then made and we were to back clear of switch leading into track B-221 to pick up caboose. As I was moving backwards at approximately 2 to 3 m.p.h.”

“Trainman Court contacted me on the radio and said that there 23 cars in the movement and that the air was not coupled. Also next to diesel unit was an empty covered hopper restricting my view of the movement. As movement proceeded back to approximately 20 car lengths from the switch, I had a full service application of independent brake and movement instead of decreasing speed increased and I knew then that I had lost control of it. I then applied emergency brake and they did not restrict the speed.”

“I did not find out how many cars I had on until after the derailment. Speed increased substantially until just prior to derailment it was registering 70 – 72 m.p.h. As I made the emergency brake application I initiated an emergency call on channel 1. I then turned to channel 2 and called train dispatcher Moncton to advise him of the situation and for him to initiate further emergency procedures.”

“At the time I toned in the train dispatcher, Trainman Court was also calling the dispatcher. I then tried to apply hand brakes by leaving engine cab and going to the first car and climbing up on the first car to attempt to proceed back to opposite end where hand brake was located, but due to the wind velocity and no hand rail on the car, I was unable.”

“I then proceeded back to cab of unit. I kept in constant with dispatcher advising him of the situation and also sounded engine whistle frequently to warn people on or about the track that movement was out of control. I was worried about train No. 14 which was in the vicinity at the time but was later assured it was by Nepisiguit Jct. Train dispatcher had attempted to have section forces open switch at Nepisiguit Jct. and I advised them to ensure that they stayed clear. I then sat on the floor of the cab to protect myself and movement derailed.”

~ Wesley MacDonald

Dispatcher Alfie (left) and engineer Wes (right) had never met
before the derailment, and only communicated over the radio.

The Characters:

Wesley MacDonald
CN engineer trapped on board the runaway.

Alfie Bureaux
CN Newcastle Sub Dispatcher. Responsible for trains on the various sub tracks in the area as well as portions of the main. Controls the Nepisiguit Sub (“Nepi” for short) as one of these feeder tracks where the incident is taking place. The principle voice on the tape.

Palmer Dempsey
CN Section Forman working with a section crew ahead of the runaway train. Responds for the likely point of derailment. One of first on scene.

Neil Gaudon
CN Roadmaster. He responds to the incident and is one of the first on scene.

Ben Levesque
Assistant Superintendent. Calls Dispatcher to have train not move after stopping.

Train 9548
Crew of Wesley MacDonald and Lorrie Sturgeon. Wesley was on the engine when it took off. Lorrie is at the mine yet, initially reporting the runaway, and then staying in radio contact to provide additional info, and to hear the outcome.

Train 14
Train that left Bathurst Station, has to go through Nepisiguit ahead of the runaway.

Train 9571
Extra 9571 East is on the Main Line, heading east toward Bathurst and the same track area as the runaway. Also, should the runaway come off the Nepisiguit Sub, and on to the this train would apparently be opposing it.

The Radio Traffic:

Here is the complete 21 minute sound file of actual runaway freight on the Canadian National’s Nepisiguit Sub as recorded by Newcastle Sub Dispatcher. You will hear the events just as they unfolded back on March 9th, 1987.

The Transcript:

0:00
(Begin)

Lorrie Sturgeon:
This is extra train 9548 at Brunswick Mines. Is that you Alfie?

Dispatcher Moncton:
Yes. Go ahead. Over.

Lorrie:
Alfie, I think we may have a knee-deep situation on our hands. We’ve grabbed a bunch of
cars back here at the mines and uh, we can’t hold them, she’s weighing on us there. How’s
#14?

Dispatcher:
14 left Bathurst at 0818, over.

Lorie:
OK, let us know when she’s by “Nepi” now, will you. Have him wait up and we can give
Wes a holler that she’s waiting’ on the main line.

Dispatcher:
Yeah, Alright. Yeah, Alright. How many cars is there, over?

Lorrie:
He has a hold of about 30.

Wesley (Wes):
This is Wesley now. 50, she’s doing 50, and I’ve got no control of her.

Dispatcher:
You, ah, you got no control of her Wesley? Are you coupled to those cars, over?

Wesley:
An awful goddamn mix-up if I ever can survive it.

Dispatcher:
I say, are you hooked up to those cars, over?

Lorrie:
Yes he is Alfie, He’s ahh, He’s coupled up to them.

Dispatcher:
Which end of the train is he on, over?

Lorrie:
He’s on the head end of it there, he’s leading going out there on them, honest to god.

Dispatcher:
He’s leading on the way out and he can’t control that train? Is that what you’re saying,
over?

Lorrie:
That is exactly the situation, Alfie. It’s a pretty bad situation really. He’s doing about 45
there and he can’t hold her. Maybe she’ll slow down there on the hill down there later on,
but I don’t know.

1:27

Wes:
I’m going by Brunswick Mills and she’s going 55 miles an hour. 55 at Brunswick Mills.
She’s off.

Dispatcher:
And there’s no way you can put that train in emergency, apparently, Wesley, over?

Wes:
There’s no air on her. There’s no air on her, Alfie.

Dispatcher:
I see. Alright. Alright. Just stand by a minute. CN Engineman #14, Newcastle Sub
Dispatcher, over.

1:51

(Tones) Train #14:
CN Engineman #14, over.

Dispatcher:
Are you fellas by Nepisiguit, over?

Train #14:
Uh. What was that again, over?

Dispatcher:
Are you… Is your train by Nepisiguit, over?

Train #14:
No, uh, he’s just trying to get the switch there now. Just wait a minute and I’ll tell you.

2:20

Train#14:
This is Engineman #14 here. We’re by Nepisiguit now, dispatcher.

Dispatcher:
Yeah alright, the reason why I’m telling you that is the ore train has a runaway train on
the Nepisiguit Sub and he can’t get her stopped and he’s heading for Nepisiguit at about
50 miles per hour. He’s lost his air, over.

Train#14:
OK, we’re by there now, don’t worry about us.

Dispatcher:
Yeah, Alright. Hello Wesley.

2:55

Dispatcher:
(Tones) CN sectionmen at Bathurst, Newcastle Sub Dispatcher, over. CN section forman
Palmer Dempsey, Newcastle Sub Dispatcher, over.

3:15

Dispatcher:
CN section forman Palmer Dempsey, Newcastle Sub Dispatcher, over

Wes:
Hello, Alfie.

Palmer Dempsey:
(Doubling with Wes) Go ahead, Dispatcher.

3:24

Dispatcher:
Yes, Dispatcher here, over. Who is this speaking?

Wes:
I’m doing 65 miles an hour, right now. 65.

Dispatcher:
I think it’s about time you left that thing isn’t it, Wesley, if you can?

Wes:
???

Dispatcher:
Yeah.

Dempsey:
This is forman Dempsey, dispatcher.

Dispatcher:
Foreman Dempsey. The ore train. The mini-ore train. It has a runaway train on the “Nepi”
Sub. He’s got about 50 cars on there… 45 or 50 cars and he’s doing 50 or 60 miles an
hour, headin’ for Nepisiguit. You fellas better get the hell out of the way.
See if.. Try to look to see if there’s anybody around there that you can chase away from
the track because he’s got a runaway train on there, over.

Wes:
70 miles an hour. 70

Dispatcher:
He’s now doing 70 miles an hour so you’d better stand back.

4:19

Dispatcher:
Wesley, is there no way that you can clear… Get off of that train for the love of heavens,
over?

Wes:
I can’t get off her.

Dispatcher:
Well. I think you better bail off into a snow bank, if you can do it at all.

Dempsey:
What mileage is he at dispatcher?

Dispatcher:
What mileage are you at Wesley, over?
What is your mileage Wesley, over?

4:40

Wes:
Four. Four.

Dispatcher:
He’s four. He’s getting pretty handy Nepisiguit.

Wes:
75 mile and hour. Right now.

Unidentified:
Stay with her Wes. Stay with ‘er.

Wes:
Oh. Christ I don’t know.

5:00

Unidentified:
(Other unidentified voices to Wes)
Hang in there, Wes. ….never make the corner there….

Dispatcher:
Uh. Wesley, do you ’spose… You’d never make that… You’d never make the west or east
leg of the wye, would you, over?

Wes:
I don’t know which would be the worst.

Dispatcher:
Hello Bathurst

Wes:
When I get done with this they can put me on my f**king pension.

Dispatcher:
How many cars you got on there besides your engines Wesley?

Wes:
30 cars. (blowing whistle on engine in background)

Dispatcher:
30 cars.

6:01

Dispatcher:
Wesley, are you alone in that engine?

Wes:
(Unintelligible) (blowing whistle on engine in background)

Dispatcher:
Would you repeat that please, over?

Wes:
Oh boy, I don’t know. I got around one corner. (horn still blowing)

Dispatcher:
Where you at, Palmer Dempsey?

Dempsey:
…. Palmer … (weak signal)

6:42

Dempsey:
Palmer Dempsey. (weak signal)

Dispatcher:
Are you on here section foreman Dempsey, over?

Dempsey:
Yes. I’m on the road dispatcher, for Nepisiguit.

Wes:
I’m coming down into “Nepi”.

Dispatcher:
He’s coming down into Nepisiguit there now, over.

Wes:
Coming down into “Nepi”. We’re doing 70.

7:08

Wes:
????…….. If I survive ‘er.

7:30

Dispatcher:
(Bleed over) Hello Bathurst Station.

Bathurst Station:
Bathurst.

Dispatcher:
Uh. Just a minute.

Wes:
Better open that mainline switch at “Nepi” before I go through ‘er.

Dispatcher:
Palmer Dempsey, you on here, over?

Dempsey:
We’re coming into “Nepi”. We’re about 3 miles out.
(doubling with Wes)

Wes:
(Unintelligible)

Dispatcher:
Palmer Dempsey, can you open one of those switches at Nepisiguit so that he can get out
on the main line if he can make it, and whatever one you think is the best, over?

8:03

Dempsey:
No, we’d never make it dispatcher. We’re about two miles from there now.

Wes:
Get the hell out of the way.

Dispatcher:
Well. Get the hell out of the way then Palmer.
#14 is by there. Get the hell out of the way Palmer, he hasn’t got time to get to the switch
there Wesley, over.

8:20

Wes:
She’ll never make it anyway cause I’m going off there at the wye.

Dispatcher:
She won’t go into emergency for you will she Wes, over?

Wes:
Come back?

Dispatcher:
I say she won’t go into emergency, eh?

Wes:
No, it just keeps kicking out.

Unidentified:
Stick to ‘er.

8:52

Dispatcher:
Bathurst Station.
Hello Bathurst Station
Hello Bathurst Station
Bathurst Station, are you on here?

Bathurst Station:
(Tones) Bathurst.

Dispatcher:
You better….you better warn people around there that we’ve got a runaway train coming
off the “Nepi” Sub, and I don’t know how far he’s gonna go, if he does get off the Sub
without being derailed. And I think you’d better alert a doctor, and an ambulance.

Bathurst Station:
OK, I’ll do that.

Dispatcher:
Straight away.

10:17

Dispatcher:
CN Engineman on the Extra 9571 East, Newcastle Sub Dispatcher, over.

Train #9571:
We’re south at Irvco, Alfie. We’re hearing what’s going on, we’re stopped at Irvco in the
yard limit.

10:30

Dispatcher:
Alright. OK. Thank you. Dispatcher Moncton out.

Lorrie:
Hello Alfie.

Dispatcher:
Yes.

Lorrie:
Yeah….Were you talking to Wes?

Dispatcher:
No I haven’t been talking to him now. Are you on here Wesley?

Dispatcher:
Is that you Lorrie?

Lorrie:
Yeah. I’m here in the van at the mines.

Dispatcher:
You’re in the van at the mines, I see. No. He hasn’t called in.

Lorrie:
Well. He’s gone then. I suppose you’re on the way out there.

11:00

Dispatcher:
Yeah. OK Lorrie.

11:36

Dispatcher:
(Bleed transmission) Hello Bathurst Station.

Asst Supt:
CN Dispatcher, CN Assistant Superintendent, over.

Dispatcher:
Are you at Bathurst? Uh….

Asst Supt:
No. I’m in Campbellton.
Can you get hold of that train somehow?

Dispatcher:
No. I can’t. I’m trying to get a hold of the driver and he won’t answer me, now, and he’s
the only one on it I think. The van is still at the mines. The train broke away.

Asst Supt:
Yeah. If you can get a hold of him, tell him that not… That when he comes to a stop and
hopefully with no injuries or anything… Tell him not to move until we’re all down there.

Dispatcher:
Well Ben, he hit the switch at Nepisiguit at about 70 mile an hour, so I don’t know where
you’re gonna find him at.

Asst Supt:
Tell him I don’t want anything to move when he comes to a stop.

Dispatcher:
Well… I… If he comes through that switch at Nepisiguit, Ben, I don’t imagine … Er … I
imagine he’s at a stop alright, in the woods somewhere.

Asst Supt:
Yeah, well hopefully not.

12:50

Dempsey:
(Bleed transmission) Uh.. CN Dispatcher Moncton, over.

Dispatcher:
CN Dispatcher Moncton, over.

Dempsey:
Yeah, we’re coming in to Wes here now, he’s off the track. At ahh… Right around the
shack at Nepisiguit.

Dispatcher:
How bad is she off there, can you see?

Dispatcher:
Hello Palmer.

Dempsey:
Yes.

Dispatcher:
Palmer, can you see how badly he is derailed, over?

Neil Gouton:
Uh, CN Dispatcher Moncton, General Roadmaster Gouton, over.

Dispatcher:
Yeah, where are you at Neil?

Gouton:
I’m coming in Nepisiguit there now, it’s not looking very good here.

Dispatcher:
Can you see the engines?

Gouton:
Yeah, they look to be on their side. I’ll get back to you… ?…

Dispatcher:
(Interference) Uhh… Hello Bathurst Station. Bathurst Station.

Bathurst Station:
(Tones) Bathurst.

Dispatcher:
Have you called an ambulance and a doctor?

Bathurst Station:
I called the ambulance, and the city police.

14:20

Dispatcher:
OK, get right up to Nepisiguit.

Dispatcher:
Uh…Lorrie Sturgeon, you on here?

Lorrie:
Go ahead dispatcher.

Dispatcher:
Yeah, they’re…they’re derailed. She’s derailed at “Nepi” there. Ahhh. Was Lorr… Er…
Wesley alone in the engine?

Lorrie:
Wes was alone in the engine, yes.

Dispatcher:
I see. What.. Did he have about 30 cars on there and the 2 engines, is that right Lorrie?

Lorrie:
Yeah.. I got about 30 cars on.

Dispatcher:
Mm-Hmm. Alright. Neil Gouton and some boys are heading up there, see what the hell is
left Lorrie, we’ll get back to you, over.

Lorrie:
Yeah, let us know how Wes is.

Dispatcher:
Yeah.

15:40

Dispatcher:
(Tones) CN Roadmaster Neil Gouton, Newcastle Sub Dispatcher, over.

Dispatcher:
CN Foreman Dempsey, Newcastle Sub Dispatcher, over.

Trackman:
Foreman Dempsey can’t… Can’t hear you now dispatcher. He’s on the engines.

Dispatcher:
He’s on the engine… Do you know if they’ve seen the driver, over?

Trackman:
We heard Wesley. He hollered for us dispatcher.

Dispatcher:
He heard Wesley yelling did he?, over?

Trackman:
They’re on the engine now… We heard Wesley speak out there.

Dispatcher:
Well that’s hope anyway. Any sign of fire, over?

Trackman:
No we didn’t see any fire yet, but there’s no telling………….?

Dispatcher:
Any houses in that area, over?

Trackman:
No.. We see one about a thousand feet there, down from there.

Dispatcher:
Yeah, alright, OK.

Asst Supt:
Dispatcher get the ambulance at the engineman on extra 9644 east …??… Dispatcher
Moncton, over.

Dispatcher:
What did you say Ben Lévesque?
What did you say Ben?

Dispatcher:
Ahh… Oh… One of the section men.

17:13

Dispatcher:
Ahh… You there at Bathurst Station.

Bathurst Station:
Bathurst.

Dispatcher:
Did….Would you order, or make sure they order a fire truck to go up to that scene, if they
can get up there, over?

Bathurst Station:
OK, I’ll do that.

Dispatcher:
Hello Lorrie Sturgeon.

Lorrie:
Go ahead, Alfie.

Dispatcher:
Yeah, we got a little… a little bit of hope there. They were talking to Wesley, I think.
They heard him….. Talking, over.

17:58

Lorrie:
Ahh that’s good, the very best. Thank you.

18:11

Dempsey:
Calling CN Dispatcher Moncton

Dispatcher:
Yes. Go ahead Palmer, over.

Dempsey:
We got him out with not a mark on him. He’s the very best.

Dispatcher:
Thank you. Yeah, just great. That’s fine. Now ahh.. Palmer, is the mainline blocked?

Dempsey:
Yes. No, the mainline is not blocked. He’s off the track on the east… On the leg of the
wye, right where you come in to the first switch.

Dispatcher:
Just as you’re coming into the wye, is that correct, over?

Dempsey:
Yes. The engines are about a hundred feet from the track.

Dispatcher:
I see. Ahh. How many… Is there any other cars off of the track, over?

Dempsey:
As far as I can see the whole trains off.

Dispatcher:
Yeah. OK. That’s Fine. And Wesley’s OK, eh?

Dispatcher:
You say Wesley is OK, is that right, over?

Dempsey:
Yeah, he’s walking up the track here now.

Dispatcher:
Are you on here Lorrie Sturgeon?

Lorrie:
Yes I heard that, good news. Thank you, Alfie.

Dispatcher:
OK. Dispatcher Moncton out.

19:31

Dispatcher:
CN Engineman on ahh.. Extra 9571 East, Newcastle Sub Dispatcher, over.

Train #9571:
9571 East, over. (whistle blowing)

Dispatcher:
I guess you heard all that Wade, the train is off the track, the engines are on their side but
Wesley’s OK. So you fellas are heading for Bathurst are you , over?

Train #9571:
At Elm Tree now.

Dispatcher:
Yeah. OK. Thanks. Dispatcher Moncton.

Unidentified:
How about did that happen, Alfie?

Dispatcher:
Well, that’s the mini ore train coming out of Nepisiguit…

Dispatcher:
(Tones) Ahh. Just a minute, Eddie.

Dispatcher:
(Tones) Newcastle Sub Dispatcher, over.

Gouton:
CN Dispatcher, Roadmaster Gouton here. I think there’s somebody that would like to
speak to you.

Wes:
Hello Alfie.

Dispatcher:
How’s she goin’ there Wesley.

Wes:
Still here…..??….. You aren’t rid of me I guess.

Dispatcher:
No I guess not, but its so nice to talk to you, I must say.

Wes:
Oh, It’s some mess. Oh. Jeepers, I’m telling you.

Dispatcher:
Well, you’ve done a wonderful job, I must say buddy. You stick with her.

Wes:
Guess I’d of been long gone if I’d of jumped her.

Dispatcher:
Well. She’s a hell of a mess there though, Wesley, eh?

Wes:
Roger yes, she’s all piled up. I don’t know how the hell I got out of her myself.

Dispatcher:
Well.. Did you… Did she go over on her side? Did the engines go over on their side?

Wes:
Yeah. Then all the cars come in up to me.

Dispatcher:
Yeah, Well well well well…and you haven’t got a scratch, I hope.

Wes:
No No, I’m doing alright. The only thing I’m waiting for is the typewriter to get going.

Dispatcher:
Yeah. That’s exactly what I say. I imagine they’ll give you 30 demerit points now.

Wes:
Yeah. I’m just waiting for the typewriter now I guess.

Dispatcher:
Oh the hell with the typewriter.

Dispatcher:
No, he stayed with her. (and background chatter from dispatcher office celebrating.

Wes:
If you’re taping.. If you have it on tape there, I want to tape it.

Dispatcher:
Yes sir, everything’s on tape here Wesley. It’s all in tape.

Wes:
Better send up the hook.

Dispatcher:
Yeah, they’re gonna… They’re working on it there now. Ben Lévesque didn’t want you to
move the train once you stopped, over.

21:39

(End)

The Aftermath:

The Epilogue:

Westly MacDonald is a happy man…

After spending nine months under a cloud of doubt following a disciplinary action by the Canadian National Railway, he was cleared of fault in the train derailment near Bathurst in March (1987) by a Canadian Transport Commission decision.

“I feel just great,” he said. “I got all the benefits, my pension, the whole works.”

The train MacDonald was engineering, two locomotives and 30 cars, derailed when the brakes apparently failed while he was attempting to hook up with another 23 cars at Brunswick Mines. Mr. MacDonald stayed on the train, blowing the whistle to warn motorists, before it went off the track at a speed of about 70 miles per hour.

Some people hailed Mr. MacDonald a hero, while CNR maintained he did not use proper judgement, and suspended him for six months.

While Mr. MacDonald is happy his name has been cleared, he said he will never forget the incident.

“I’ll never get over it, that’s for sure. It’ll follow me for the rest of my days.”

Steve McIntosh, CN’s public affairs spokesman said at the time that the company was not prepared to comment on the situation until a copy of the Arbitration Board’s ruling could be studied. He added the report will have to be studied carefully before the company decides what action, if any, will be taken.

Mr. McIntosh said he did not think the decision affected the other men who were suspended, because the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers only filed a grievance on behalf of Mr. MacDonald. He added that he would have to see the report before he could be sure.

While Mr. MacDonald was hurt by the suspension, he does not blame the company, just a few uncaring officials.

“It’s a wonderful place to work,” he said. “It’s just a few people that are running it, that’s the problem. The morale of workers has gone down. It doesn’t seem like you’re anything anymore, just a number.”

Mr. MacDonald retired in November, 1987 after 42 (otherwise incident-free) years with the company.