Railway spacer block of wood - Date/Photographer unknown.

17 October 2013

Wooden Railway Spacer Block
Falls 20 Metres onto Road Below

Cambridge Ontario - Canadian Pacific Railway officials had some explaining to do following an incident involving the bridge spanning the Grand River near Galt Collegiate Institute last week.
 
Friday morning, a heavy wooden spacer block used to maintain the distance between railway ties on the bridge loosened and fell about 20 metres onto the dirt road in Riverbluffs Park.
 
West side resident Cindy Watson discovered the fallen spacer on the road beneath the bridge while walking with her sisters.
 
"We noticed that it had an odd shape. It wasn't like a log. We looked up and my sister noticed it looked like one of the little blocks under the bridge," she said.
 
Watson immediately called the city and staff there contacted the railway.
 
"It was a component of the rail structure, but it didn't affect the integrity of the bridge," said CPR spokesperson Ed Greenberg. "We have taken all the necessary steps. Our people have been on scene. The bridge has been inspected and the space block has been replaced."
 
"My concern is that if that had hit someone, they would never have survived," Watson said.
 
Kent McVittie, Cambridge's community services commissioner, said city parks crews immediately closed the road once they learned about the fallen block.
 
"When staff was alerted to the incident, the railway was contacted immediately and an area under the bridge was cordoned off," McVittie told the Times.
 
"Once the railway reported back to us that the deficiency had been addressed, and that the bridge was inspected to ensure there was no risk for future occurrences of a similar nature, the area was opened again."
 
McVittie said this is the first incident of this type that his staff can remember.
 
Although the bridge was built in 1879, Greenberg said it is regularly inspected and maintained.
 
"It's an important part of the company's infrastructure," he said.
 
"We take the safety of our operation and the communities in which we work very seriously. This bridge is part of the company's bridge monitoring and inspection program. There are strict protocols and procedures in place."
 
Greenberg could not say how the spacer block broke free from the bridge, nor could he say it would not happen again.
 
"That would be speculation. What I can say is that the bridge is regularly inspected and maintained," he said.
 
Watson is grateful for the quick response by the city, but she continues to have concerns.
 
"I walk past there six times a week and I'll never look at that bridge the same way again," she said.
 
"I think it's important that people know about this and there is the potential it could happen again."
 
She believes the city should post a sign on the road beneath the bridge warning people of the possibility of another spacer falling.
 
"I just want it to be as safe as possible," she said.
 
Ray Martin.

Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Canada