HEAVY TOLL TAKEN IN HEAD-ON COLLISION
JUNE 8TH. 1926
Picture 2016. CNR Rail Bridge East of Elma over the Whitemouth River
Train Wreck
Early in the morning hours of June 8th. 1926 two locomotives collided on the railway bridge in Elma, Manitoba.
Headlines in the Winnipeg Free Press dated 9th. June 1926 were "FOUR STEALING RIDE ON C.N. FREIGHT TRAIN MET DEATH AT ELMA,MAN. "
The story went on to say;
"The death toll resulting from the collision of two Canadian National Railways freight trains near Elma, Manitoba, early yesterday morning mounted today with the finding of two more bodies in the wreckage. It now stands at five. A sixth man, Brakeman L.A. Pinault, is missing and is presumed to have been killed.
Three of the four men who were stealing a ride on the tender have been identified, but the fourth body is burned beyond recognition."
An earlier Winnipeg Free Press edition on June 9th. Headlined "HEAVY TOLL TAKEN IN HEAD-ON COLLISION"
"Engineer and Two Unknown Men killed and one man is missing."
The injured according to the above article were, F.J. Fav of Transcona, fireman of the westbound train, who was severely scalded and fireman C. Fraser. of the eastbound train, who suffered injuries to both legs and was also scalded. Both were taken to St. Boniface Hospital. Their condition was reported as only fair.
: The dead are. Thomas J. Plunkett of 485 Dominion Street, Winnipeg, an engineer on the westbound train; two unknown men, believed to have been tramps stealing a ride on the tender of Mr. Plunketts train. While Brakesman L.A. Pinault of 83 Regent Street, Transcona of the westbound train, is missing."
Picture likely taken by Fred Tommila
The Manitoba Free Press reported on June 10th. "Five are now known dead in Railway Wreck near Elma." The article went on to report the arrest of three men and two women, "residents of the locality, charged with pilfering from the cars of the derailed trains. All of them were removed to the Provincial Jail in Winnipeg by the Provincial and CNR police."
"The bodies of four men alleged to have been going east on the wrecked train have, with one exception, been identified. They were Freeman Taylor of Toronto; S.W. Boyd of Vancouver and Thie Stel, from Holland, believed to have recently arrived in the country, in his pocket was found a letter addressed to 489 Desalaberry Avenue. The body of the fourth victim was charred beyond recognition."
St. Boniface Hospital reported F.J. Fay as only "fair" and G. Fraser as slightly improving.
The Brandon Sun reported on June 11th. 1926. "FOUND SIXTH BODY, THAT OF BRAKEMAN IN WRECK IN ELMA."
"The body of L.A. Pinault, Canadian National Railway brakeman of Transcona, Ma., who was reported missing following the collision of two freight trains near Elma, Man., Tuesday, has been found. Workmen clearing away the debris found the body buried under coal dumped from the tender of the westbound train. This completes the death toll, making the sixth victim of the collision."
The coroner's inquiry the following week found it impossible to place responsibility for the wreck. There were discrepancies in times reported by both train crews. and the jury found "We further find that the collision was due to carelessness," There were conflicting stories which made a determination impossible. The scheduled times the trains left Hoctor siding and Elma were not correct.
These two pictures were submitted by Jennifer Senenko. Her Great Grandfather, Thomas Nowicki, was a Section Boss around this time.
The Mikado class locomotive #3557 was homed in Transcona. It was salvaged from the bridge and returned to service.Believed to have been built in 1923. The picture below by an unknown photographer shows the #3557 near Edmonton, Alberta.
The Mikado class locomotive #3557 was homed in Transcona. It was salvaged from the bridge and returned to service.Believed to have been built in 1923. The picture below by an unknown photographer shows the #3557 near Edmonton, Alberta.
December 28, 1910, (page 3 Free Press)
G. T. P. Wreck.
The track of the Grand Trunk Pacific east of the city was cleared
yesterday from the effects of a wreck which occurred at four o’clock on Monday morning.
The trouble occurred at Elma, about 60 miles east of the city. The
track spread and 17 cars were derailed. The freight carried was chiefly coal. The locomotive remained on the track and there was no injury of any kind to any of the members of the train crew. The auxiliary train went east from Transcona to the scene and succeeded in clearing up the balance of the debris yesterday.