3 April 2009
Railway Employee Recognized for Helping Avert Derailment
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Bert Eilander.
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Guelph Junction Ontario - Bert Eilander, a
long-time Canadian Pacific Railway employee, was watching David Letterman late one summer night when a train approached
on the tracks 50 feet across from his Nassagaweya house.
But as it rumbled up, Eilander knew something was wrong. Never before had a passing train caused the foundation of his Guelph Junction
Road house to shake like this.
Instinctively, he knew the train had to stop, and it had to stop right now or it was in danger of derailing.
Without pausing, Eilander grabbed the phone, called the chief dispatcher - he had the number memorized - and told him of the urgent
need to halt the train.
About 3 km later, the train came to a slow stop near Guelph Line.
Upon inspection, Eilander's suspicions were confirmed: the handbrakes of the last three cars had been left on as the train
headed from Hamilton toward Milton. Those three trains had been pulled more than 24 km and the metal wheels were so badly flattened
they were no longer round.
"When the train stopped the wheels were purple from the heat," Eilander recalled.
That night, 24 Jun 2008, a derailment was likely averted due to Eilander's intuitive response.
We'll never know just what might have happened had the resident not been in the right place at the right time with all the right
expertise. And that's just the way he likes it.
Wednesday, Eilander boarded a plane for Calgary to receive a 2009 President's Award from CPR for his quick thinking.
"Your quick action in having the train stopped when you heard the noise of badly skidded wheels probably averted a derailment and
is very worthy of this recognition," wrote Fred Green, CPR president, in a congratulatory letter.
Once in Calgary, Eilander rode the classy Royal Canadian Pacific train to Lake Louise, Alta., in a two-day trip hosted by
Green. There was also a gala celebration and sightseeing. Eilander will be flown back tomorrow.
"Not bad for 30 seconds of work," Eilander joked before leaving.
Nevertheless, it feels a bit overwhelming to be fussed over, he said.
"Had I been on the job at the time, it would've just been part of my duties."
Although the train was travelling only about 15 km/h as it passed his house that night, it likely would have sped to almost 90 km/h
once it cleared Campbellville and headed into Milton; and the high speeds would have added to the likelihood of a derailment, Eilander
said.
One of the reasons Eilander knew just what was happening was a similar situation took place years ago as a train made its way from
Etobicoke to Vaughan.
But that incident ended much differently; a rail car came off the track on a bridge overpass and killed the occupants of a van.
"I thought, I know exactly what this sounds like. That train has to stop," Eilander said.
Why the brakes were left on, nobody knows. It could have been an oversight of the crew or a group of kids who decided to get into some
trouble.
Eilander has been a train enthusiast since he was a kid and it's no coincidence he lives so close to train tracks.
"I work my hobby," he said.
He's proud to be a yard co-ordinator for CPR, which he said was declared the safest railway in North America, not for the
first time. Last year, it was fatality-free, which is rare for a railway, Eilander said.
His wife, Dawn, couldn't be happier about the recognition Bert's receiving.
"Simply put, my husband's love for trains prevented what would no doubt have been a major derailment in the town of Milton,"
she said.
Anyone who sees something amiss on a passing train or railway property can call the CPR Community Connect Line at
1-800-766-7912.
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