NO FIRE OR EXPLOSION WHEN LOCOMOTIVE HITS OIL TRUCK

[Welland Tribune March 4, 1947]

A Pere Marquette freight train last night smashed into an Imperial Oil tank truck, stuck in the snow over a New York Central Railway crossing on Highway 3A between Chamber’s Corners and Beckett’s Bridge, shoving the truck into a ditch. It was the second of two traffic accidents in the Welland area attributed to yesterday’s snowstorm.

The truck driven by Don Crosby of R.R. 2 Welland, was returning from Dunnville when it got stuck in snow over the crossing, with front wheels jammed between the rails. When Crosby saw the train approaching he ran down the tracks in an attempt to flag it down. The  freight slowed up but was unable to stop in time to avoid the truck. Badly damaged it was hurled into the ditch. The truck contained 200 gallons of gasoline, but there was no explosion. The accident occurred at 3.10 p.m.

The train, proceeding west, was in charge of Conductor C. Watson and Engineer L. Fyle. Provincial Constables Reg. Bass and Frank Bromfield investigated.

Earlier in the day, an auto driven by John Cameron, Toronto, struck three school children, walking on Highway 3A on their way home from school near Singer’s Corner. The three Henry Lamay 16, is under observation at the Welland County General hospital for a bump on the head. The other two children, whose names were unavailable were taken to their homes..

The driver told police who investigated that due to snow flurries visibility was poor and he did not see the children on the highway until he was too close to be able to avoid them.

Smithville is Darkened as Freight Trains Collide on T.H. and B Line

[Welland Tribune January 6, 1947]

Hamilton, Jan. 6- Railway traffic was halted, power cut off and Station road in nearby Smithville blocked Saturday night when a T.H. and B. Railway freight train plowed into the rear of another near the village station.

Two men, Conductor Edward Barlow and Trainman A. LeRoy, both of Hamilton, leaped from the caboose of the first train seconds before the crash. No one was injured.

The collision wrecked four coal cars and the caboose of the first train and two coal cars of the second. The locomotive of the rear train was damaged. Immediately after the crash, the caboose of the leading train caught fire, but the blaze was extinguished by Smithville fire department before serious damage resulted.

Smithville Lights Out
In addition, one of the derailed  cars knocked down a hydro line and plunged Smithville into darkness for the night. The community’s power supply had been restored only a few hours before after a 30-hour blackout caused by storm damage to the electric system.

Wreckage strewn along the tracks prevented service from being resumed until yesterday, and a C.P.R.-T.H. and B. Toronto-New York train, had to be rerouted via the Canadian National Railways to the suspension bridge at Niagara Falls station road, near the village depot, was also plugged by debris and was not opened for traffic until yesterday.

Railway officials could offer no explanation for the crash, but it was pointed out that both freights were extras and that recent storm damage had made communications difficult. Many wires in the area were not yet operating when the accident took place.

Both trains were bound for Hamilton. The first had just pulled onto main line from the Dunnville spur when it was struck. The other was en route from Welland to Hamilton.

FATALITIES TAKE PLACE IN CROWLAND AND STEVENSVILLE

Carbide Employee Is Killed After leaving Plant; Driver of Milk Wagon Crossing Victim

[Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 16 December 1943]

Two fatalities occurred in the district during the past 24 hours, as the result of violent accidents. Isaac Neisteruk of Welland RR3, was killed instantly shortly after 11 o’clock last night when struck by an automobile in front of the Electric Metallurgical Co. plant, and Harry Hlady of Fort Erie , driver of a milk truck was killed shortly after 10 this morning when his truck was struck by a fast express at the Stevensville N.Y.C. crossing.

Isaac Neisteruk, 36, Welland R.R. 3, was killed instantly last night, when the bicycle he was riding was struck by a car driven by Archie McDonald, 21, of 123 Welland street, Port Colborne.

Neisteruk who was leaving work at eh Union carbide plant of the Electro Metallurgical Co., was proceeding north on the highway in front of the plant, at approximately 11.05 having come off the 11 o’clock  McDonald was also proceeding north in his car, when he crashed into the bicycle.

Provincial Constables Reg Bass and Almer McNamara are investigating the mishap. Coroner W.K. Colbeck stated this morning that an inquest will be held into the Neisteruk death, with Coroner E.A. MacKenzie of Port Colborne presiding.

Neisteruk had worked at the Electro Metallurgical Co., for the past two years.

He is survived by his wife; two children, Annie and Mary; one sister, Mrs. John Los, of R.R. 3, Welland, and his father and mother, in Russia.

The funeral will be held on Saturday afternoon, December 18, at three o’clock from the residence of his sister, Mrs. John Los, Highway No 3 at Coyle to All People’s Mission, Maple Leaf Park. Interment will be in Holy Cross cemetery.

Hlady, whose age was given as approximately 38, was an employee of the Lichtenberger Dairy, Fort Erie. He had just finished his milk delivery in Stevensville, and was returning back in Fort Erie, proceeding north on the road into the village. He had waited for an east-bound train at the double crossing, and was crossing the tracks with the wig-wag signals still working, when he was struck by the west-bound express, the 10.10 train into Welland.

The truck, a light delivery model was hit squarely by the train and dragged for approximately 300 yards along the track. It was wrecked almost beyond recognition. Hlady was killed outright.

Coroner Dr. Roy Stackhouse of Ridgeway was called, but was not known whether or not there would be an inquest.

Hlady had been employed as a driver in the Stevensville district by the Lichtenberger dairy for the past five or six years, and resided at the dairy. He is not known to have had any family.

*Buried at the Brethren in Christ (Tunker) cemetery, Bishop Bert Sherk officiating.

STALLS ON R.R., AUTO WRECKED

[Welland Tribune December 10, 1943]

Abandoned by the driver and passenger on the New York Central Railroad crossing on Ontario road in the path of an on-coming fast, train at approximately 4.15 this morning, a car belonging to Dwight Hodgkins, Burgar street, was smashed beyond recognition and carried by the locomotive about 500 yards along the railway Literally wrecked to bits, the automobile was picked up off the tracks by railroad men with shovels this morning.

Police chief Lockhart Trinnell of Crowland said this morning that Hodgkins, who was driving the car, and his passenger, William Frost, 14 Major street, had apparently tried to cross the tracks in the path of the train, in spite of the warning bells, which were already ringing. The car had stalled and the two men jumped out.

Police Constables Sheldon Kellar and William Wright investigated the accident. Chief Trinnell reported that Hodgkins would be charged with dangerous driving and Frost with being intoxicated in a public place. They were released today on bail and will appear in court December 17.

SAD FATALITY AT THOROLD

[Welland Telegraph October 8, 1903]

A fatal accident occurred on the N.S & T.R. line at Thorold Monday morning, whereby George Betts, of St Catharines, a section employee of the company, lost his life. Betts, with the other members of the section gang, was working on the eastern side of Thorold, and their handcar, on which was a quantity of ties, stood on the track near by. When the car due at Thorold at 8.56 a.m. was seen approaching several of the section hands ran to place their hand-car on the siding, out of danger, while one of their number took his place to operate the switch. He waited till he thought his companions had run their car into safety, and he signalled to the passenger car to run ahead. Motorman Clark obeyed the signal, and the car passed over the switch and into the siding before the switchman had turned the points back to their proper position. Betts had no chance of escape. The car was upon him before he was aware of it, and in the twinkling of an eye the man was dashed to the ground and the car passed over him mangling his body frightfully and causing almost instant death.
Betts was between fifty and sixty years of age and leaves a widow and four children. He resided on Henry street St Catharines.
An inquest is being held.

KILLED ON G.T.R.

[Welland Telegraph March 6, 1903]

James Durham Meets a tragic End on the Railroad Wednesday Evening
A sad and fatal accident occurred on Wednesday evening, when James Durham was killed on the G.T.R. tracks. The fatality occurred just north of the Welland depot and about 7 o’clock in the evening. The unfortunate man was struck by the engine, carried about 100 feet and hurled to one side of the track. Death was instantaneous.

James Durham, together with his son Teskey, and Alf Young and Herbert Reuter,had been in Mr Reuter’s bush all day getting out timber for a new house Mr Reuter intends building. About 6.30 they started for home down the track. Teskey and Alf Young walked ahead and James Durham and Mr Reuter walked behind. Both went along with their heads down. When just back of McAlpine’s brick house two south bound trains went through on the last track. The two men continued to walk on the west track, Mr Durham on the inside. Just as the second freight was passing the north bound passenger train ran the men down before they realized it was coming. Mr Reuter just stepped off in the nick of time, but Mr Durham was caught, and probably never knew what struck him.

When the trains passed the young men, who were ahead, ran back and the old man was found at the side of the track where he had been thrown. Medical aid was summoned, but it was useless for he was already dead. His left arm and right leg were broken and his head cut.

James Durham was one of the oldest residents of Welland and probably had seen more changes here than any other man. He was a son of Jos Durham, who was one of the first settlers of the northern part of Wainfleet township. Having once held much property just west of the town along the river. James is the last surviving member. He was 69 years of age and the father of two sons and four daughters, who are left to mourn his untimely loss. They are: Teskey, at home, Ernest, in Bay City; Mrs Ellis, Mrs John Dunlop and Mrs A.W. McAlpine, of this town, and Mrs John Marvin of Toronto.

Deceased was well and favorably known about town and was a good citizen. It was one of his boasts that he had never been under a doctor’s care or never take a spoonful of medicine.

The funeral will take place tomorrow from the late residence, Ross street, in the east end, and interment will be at Fonthill.

A FATAL ACCIDENT

[Welland Telegraph January 23, 1903]

Two Young Men Meet Terrible Death at Jordan Bridge.
Jordan, Ont. Jan. 19-A shocking accident occurred at the new double track Grand Trunk Railway bridge last night, when two young men of the village, both well and favorably known, were instantly killed. Their names are John Fester and Elmer Moyer.

It is not known whether the boys were together, but both were killed about the same time. The body of Fester was found about 9.30, and even then it was not known that Moyer had met a similar fate. His body however was found at 8 o’clock this morning, lying on the bank.

They had been to the Methodist church and were on their way home and walked  unconsciously into the death trap. No. 17, Toronto express was going west, and it is evident in stepping out of the way to avoid being struck by this train, they moved over to the other track, where another train was crossing the bridge at the same time.

The affair has cast a gloom over the village. The young men were both about 19 years of age, and of respectable parents. Mr Moyer was president of the Methodist Epworth League, and prominent in church work. Fester was also a worker in the same church, and their sad end will long be remembered here.

KILLED ON THE TRACKS

[Welland Telegraph June 19, 1903]

Christian Lieher, an inmate of the Industrial Home, came to a sad and tragic end on the M.C. R. Tracks near Perry on Tuesday evening, At the time the victim was unknown, and it was not until Wednesday morning that he was identified. An east bound freight was running at a high rate of speed just at dusk, when an old man suddenly walked on the track directly in front of the train. He was struck and hurled to one side. When picked up he was dead. A cut on the back of his head and others in front and an arm broken in two places were the results of the blow. Coroner Hopkins of Marshville was summoned, and after viewing the remains ordered them sent to Welland where they were received by Chief Forde and placed in Messrs, Lawrence & Sutherland’s morgue. An effort was made to identify the man, as it was thought from his appearance that he was not a tramp. About 11 o’clock Messrs, Ben Zavitz and Peter Sipp of Ridgeway viewed the remains and identified them as Christian Lieher of Ridgeway, who has lately been an inmate of the Home. A telephone message to the Home revealed the fact that he had absconded early Tuesday morning.
The old man had been a resident of Ridgeway for many years, and a few years ago when his wife died he had considerable property. After his wife’s death his mind became affected and he lost his property and money before his relatives knew of his unwise dealings. Two sons, John and Fred, live in Buffalo, and a daughter, Mrs Elizabeth Rohr, lives in Ridgeway. The sons placed their father in institutions in New York State but he was dissatisfied. Last March he was put in the Industrial Home here. On Monday he asked Keeper Kottmeier for money to go to Humberstone, which was refused him. The next morning he was gone and Mr Kottmeier concluded he had gone to Humberstone. The old man had apparently lost his way and imagined when walking up the M.C.R. tracks that he was going up the G.T.R. to Humberstone. His sons arrived in town Wednesday evening and had the remains moved to Ridgeway for burial. He was 78 years of age. Crown attorney T.D. Cowper decided an inquest unnecessary.

FIVE GRIMSBY PEOPLE KILLED

Terrible Railway Accident
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]

KILLED
W. Wilson
Mrs. W. Wilson
George Teeter
Mrs. George Teeter
Gordon Nelson
SERIOUSLY INJURED
Lottie Teeter

Grimsby, Jan.17- A merry load of Grimsby people left here on Friday night, laughing and singing gaily, for a run and a night’s enjoyment at Winona. Everything was as merry as a marriage bell at Winona. At an early hour on Saturday morning, the return was made and at about three o’clock the party was crossing the Grand Trunk tracks immediately east of the station here when the flyer from Toronto and Hamilton for Buffalo and the west, rushed along at between fifty and sixty miles an hour. As it does not stop between Hamilton and St. Catharines, it struck the sleigh load of happy people with terrific force. The result of awful impact was that Mr. and Mrs. W. Wilson and Mr. George Teeter were instantly killed, and Mrs. Geo. Teeter was so terribly injured that she died very shortly after.

Mr. Gordon Nelson was terribly injured and was taken to Hamilton hospital, where he died at noon on Saturday, and Lottie Teeter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Teeter, who are both dead, is at her home here, also severely injured, but the doctors hope she may recover. The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Teeter, who was in her mother’s arms, escaped in a most miraculous manner, with only a few minor bruises.

RAILWAY ACCIDENT

[Welland Telegraph April 10, 1903]

A bad accident occurred Monday morning about half past three when G.T.R. train No 8, the Chicago flyer, drawn by engine No 567, smashed into yard engine No 638, and string of freight cars, at this place.

The flyer was in charge of Engineer Ashby and conductor H. Bell Jas Crossett was engineer on the yard engine. The flyer is the fastest train coming here from London and consists of a baggage van, a coach and a pullman.

The yard engine was backing down the yard with a long string of freight cars, when the flyer crashed into it. Both engines are badly damaged, and to look at the yard engine was to wonder how it was possible for the engineer and firemen to get out alive, as the tender was jabbed right through the cab up against the boiler and the cab broken to pieces. Engineer Crossett was badly hurt, but the fireman escaped without a scratch. He says he does not know how it happened but he suddenly found himself lying on the track beside his engine. It seems miraculous that these two men were not instantly killed, as they had scarcely any warning as to what was coming. The men on the other escaped without injury, but Conductor H. Bell was badly cut up about the face and head and several passengers were badly shaken up.

The cars of No 8 remained on the track though considerably damaged, and were taken down by a Lehigh Valley engine. Both engines are badly damaged, the lighter engine being smashed the most. Many freight cars are broken or derailed, some even 200 feet from the collision were damaged or thrown off the track. One box car in particular. The second from the engine was thrown into peculiar shape. It is split in half and the trucks coming together elevated the centre part about 20 feet.

There are two semaphores up the track a little way to guard against such accidents. Sunday night these were in charge of Switchman George England. He claims that both semaphores were up and that the No 8 should have stopped. Engineer Ashby could not have seen them in time, but he evidently tried to stop, as the track was sanded for about 100 feet back. There is a sharp curve at the scene of the wreck and doubtless this had something to do with it. Large crowds visited the place Monday.

Dr Wilson, the G.T.R. physician, was early on the scene and  assisted by Dr Kellam, did good work in helping the injured. Jas Crosssitt was removed to his home, and by latest reports is doing well as could be expected. Conductor Bell’s injuries were dressed at the station and he proceeded to his home in Sarnia by the early express. Another man injured was F.H. Stevens, a theatrical manager, who was removed to the St Catharines hospital. He is doing well also.