‘Unaware of the potential consequence’: Findings on Brooks train-car derailment released

Seventeen train cars derailing near Brooks, Alta., in 2024 came down to incomplete training, the country’s transportation watchdog says.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its findings Tuesday.

No one was injured and no materials were spilled when a sizeable portion of a Canadian Pacific Railway (CPKC) freight train left the tracks on Feb. 5, 2024.

It happened around 4:30 p.m.

Police said at the time the incident resulted in a temporary closure of Highway 1A.

In its investigation report, the TSB notes the train had issues the day before.

It describes “smoke emanating from one of the trailing head-end locomotive’s traction motors.”

“In consultation with the supervisor mechanical (locomotive) (SML), the locomotive engineer cut out the affected traction motor and the axle’s speed sensor,” the report states.

“The locomotive engineer was instructed to monitor the issue, and the train continued on its trip.

“However, when recording the traction motor issue, neither the locomotive engineer nor the SML made mention of the speed sensors in their respective fault logs.

“The next day, after several crew changes, the axle seized, with the resulting damage to the wheel set causing a track failure and the subsequent derailment.”

Cutting out the speed sensor “removed an important line of defence to protect against locked axle conditions.”

“The SML was still completing his training modules and had not yet received training on the mechanical aspects of locomotives, which covers essential information for troubleshooting,” the report states.

“Without this specific technical knowledge, he was unaware of the potential consequence of cutting out speed sensors.”

Another, more specialized train staff position—eliminated a decade prior—would’ve had that knowledge.

“When specialist duties are transferred to a position occupied by an individual that is not specialized in those duties, unless technical training, mentoring, and operational experience are provided to bridge the gaps between the two positions, there is an increased risk that these duties will not be performed to meet safe railway operations,” the TSB says.

CPKC took steps to make sure the knowledge that would have made a difference in this incident is more widely known.

CPKC also created a mechanical locomotive support desk to take over troubleshooting.

The full report can be found online.