Railroaders support each other in wake of derailment that killed 3
CALGARY — A veteran Canadian Pacific Railway engineer says railroaders are supporting one another after a derailment in the Rocky Mountains this week claimed three of their own.
“All the people I work with are incredible professionals and we take care of each other and watch each other,” Carl Schnurr of Calgary said Wednesday.
A train carrying 112 grain cars and with its air brakes on was parked on a grade before it started moving on its own about 1 a.m. Monday just east of Field. No handbrakes had been applied.
Engineer Andrew Dockrell, conductor Dylan Paradis and trainee Daniel Waldenberger-Bulmer had just taken over from a crew who were approaching their maximum hours.
Waldenberger-Bulmer, 26, had just moved to Calgary from Victoria to become a railway conductor. He started work with Canadian Pacific in November.
“Because we try and take care of each other so much, this just hurts even more,” Schnurr said before starting his work day on the railway.
Schnurr has set up a GoFundMe campaign called the Laggan Relief Fund for families of the victims. By Wednesday evening, it had raised more than $61,400. “We need to take care of these families. I can’t stress that enough,” Schnurr said.
Dockrell’s siblings said in a statement that the engineer had worked with the rail company since 1985 and only had a few years left until retirement.
“He was a very devoted employee and had worked in Alberta, British Columbia and also in Ontario when they had a man shortage,” said Ed and Heather Dockrell.
He took his job seriously but also made it fun, added Schnurr. He said Dockrell went by the nickname Doc at work.
Paradis was a father of two young girls and Schnurr said he can’t imagine what his widow is going through.
“Dylan was great to work with — big smile on his face, enjoyed his job,” he said. “I don’t think I ever heard any negative comments out of him.”
Schnurr never meet Waldenberger-Bulmer. But Schnurr said he has worked with Waldenberger-Bulmer’s twin brother, Jeremy, who is a Canadian Pacific conductor.
“I feel like half of me is gone now,” Jeremy Waldenberger-Bulmer said in a statement.
The derailment happened between the Lower and Upper Spiral Tunnels in Yoho National Park. The tunnels were built 110 years ago to help trains traverse a treacherous, steep hill around the Kicking Horse Pass.
Canadian Pacific said it has started its own investigation and will fully co-operate with the Transportation Safety Board and Transport Canada. It said CP crews, contractors and agencies are working to remove the damaged rail cars and equipment. That is expected to take days.