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Rail transportation safety investigation R14E0081

The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 22 December 2015.

Table of contents

Main-track derailment

Canadian National
Freight train A41851-11
Mile 202.3, Slave Lake Subdivision
Faust, Alberta

View final report

The occurrence

On 11 June 2014, at 1530 Mountain Daylight Time, eastbound Canadian National freight train A41851-11 derailed the last 20 cars at Mile 202.3 of the Slave Lake Subdivision in Faust, Alberta. The last 17 cars were residue tank cars that had last carried diesel fuel (UN 1202). There was no release of product and there were no injuries. Approximately 1200 feet of track was damaged.

Media materials

News releases

2015-12-22

Inadequate track conditions led to June 2014 Canadian National Railway derailment near Faust, Alberta
Read the news release

Deployment notice

2014-06-11

TSB deploys team to freight train derailment in Faust, Alberta

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Faust, Alberta, where a freight train operated by Canadian National derailed. There were no injuries or dangerous goods release reported. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.


Investigation information

Map showing the location of the occurrence


Investigator-in-charge

Photo of Don Crawford

Before joining the TSB, Mr. Crawford had been railroading in Canada and abroad for 35 years. He started out in Track Maintenance with CN Rail, transferred to operations to become a brakeman, conductor and eventually became a locomotive engineer on the west coast of BC. It was while working in Smithers BC many years ago as a locomotive engineer that he became interested in health and safety. He got involved in the joint H&S committee and began taking correspondence courses in OH&S. Mr. Crawford also developed a keen interest in teaching and training and became a technical instructor for the locomotive engineer training program at CN. He left CN in 2000 to go on his own as a consultant. A short time after leaving CN Mr. Crawford volunteered for the 'UN Mission in Kosovo' for a year and a half after the conflict ended there. As well, he spent 5 years working in the United States teaching remote control locomotive operations for the Union Pacific RR. After that, Mr. Crawford returned to work with CN as a manager of locomotive engineers. His most recent work experience overseas was a one year contract in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop a training program for the Saudi Railway Company (SAR). While there he completed the Applied Certificate in Health, Safety and Environmental Processes through the University of Fredericton.


Photos


  Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

Class of investigation

This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.

TSB investigation process

There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation

  1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
  2. Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
  3. Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.

For more information, see our Investigation process page.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.