Railway accident records at Library and Archives Canada

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By Rebecca Murray

In recent years, large-scale railway derailments and collisions have caught our attention and have become questions of public safety, but this is not a new chapter in Canadian transportation history. Rail accidents dot the history of railways in Canada and have shaped the lives of many Canadians.

A black and white photograph of a partially derailed train in a train yard. Snow covers the ground and a city can be seen in the background.

Cars off track at Strachan Avenue, Toronto, December 19, 1916. Photograph taken by John Boyd (PA-070106)

Have you witnessed a railway accident? Was a family member or friend involved in a railway accident? Do you have an interest in railway history in a specific region or for a specific railway company? These are just some of the many reasons that researchers consult Library and Archives Canada’s (LAC) Reference Services regarding railway accident records.

Starting your railway accident research

First, gather as much information as you can about the rail accident prior to contacting or visiting LAC. The exact date and location are extremely important, as are details such as individuals involved and if possible, type of accident (e.g. public crossing, derailment, crash). If you are missing some of these details, consult newspapers on microfilm or online before undertaking your search with LAC’s online tools. Accident records are usually organized chronologically by date, so the date is key for you to start your research with the correct institution.

LAC holds rail accident records for investigations that began in 1990 or earlier, whereas the Transportation Safety Board maintains an online database for investigations from 1991 to the present.

Records at LAC

Railway accident records can be found in various series of the Canadian Transport Commission fonds (RG46) depending on the time period and type of accident.

I suggest relying on the following search strategies and finding aids to begin your research:

Finding Aid # Format Time Period How to Use the Finding Aid
46-21 Collection Search 1838–1987 Use the following search string to generate a file list: RG46-C-II-1 46-21 accident. Limit the results to the Archives tab and then filter by date or add a location keyword, i.e. Toronto.
46-10 Online Finding Aid 46-10 1904–1949, 1964–1972 The finding aid is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically by railway company. Each report varies in content, but often references accidents.
46-55 Online Finding Aid 46-55 1900–1992 Accidents at public crossings arranged alphabetically by geographic subdivision
46-58 Online Finding Aid 46-58 1982–1983 Chronological
46-59 Online Finding Aid 46-59 1984 Chronological

There are also additional resources online and onsite at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St., Ottawa. You can use Collection Search to do general keyword searches with terms like “rail” AND “accident” (or “derailment” or “collision”) and use the left menu to sort all results by date, or you can limit your results to a specific decade.

If you follow the steps described above and still can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t despair! Reference Services staff are always just a call or click away. You are also welcome to visit in person. No matter how you contact us, we are happy to help researchers with their questions.

Rebecca Murray is a reference archivist in the Reference Services Division of Library and Archives Canada.

10 thoughts on “Railway accident records at Library and Archives Canada”

  1. I’m looking for a record of the CN train crash with a milk truck at Bell’s Corners, Ottawa likely around 1965 . This happened at the Railway crossing at the intersection of Northside Road and Cedarview Road. I lived several blocks away then on Thorncliff Place and vividly remember this being a big news item at the time.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Lynn,
      Are you certain that it was as late as 1965? My grandfather derailed a CNR Continental at Bell’s Corners in 1957 while driving a truck loaded with infant formula. I would be interested if you remember further details.

      Reply ↓

  2. I’d like to know more about a rail accident regarding my Paternal Great Grandfather Hiram Downey Bradley
    Passed away days after a rail accident possibly in the Nippissing area May 1922.
    He was a young man in his 20’s with a large family.
    His daughter Eva Ethel Bradley was my Grandmother.

    Reply ↓

  3. Hi I am looking for any information regarding an accident that occurred on April 11 1964 in Newcastle, New Brunswick

    Reply ↓

  4. CNR on County Road 7 North of Bath Ontario around 28 September 1973, 2 Newburgh area men killed at this level crossing between Kingston and Napanee, the Kingston Whig Standard may have coverage…
    John Pathuis and Dale Lockridge the young men killed in this collision.
    Any article/coverage known?
    Appreciate anything, thank you.

    Reply ↓

  5. My grandfather was George Ross Poste. He died as the result of a CNR rail accident on January 19, 1929 at Bayside, Ontario which was located near where CFB Trenton is now.
    I can find very little information about the accident, and some of what I can find is inaccurate.
    Would you have any information about the accident?

    Reply ↓

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