The DeBlois Train Wreck

Many of the train wrecks on Prince Edward Island occurred in the winter months. Because of dangerous conditions, section foremen and crews had to be on duty during storms to make sure the track was safe for passenger trains and to remove all obstructions. They would do anything they could to keep the line open, including hacking the ice off the rails with axes. Throughout the winter, the foreman was expected to make daily reports to the track master about the depth of snow.

On February 20th, 1932, 49-year-old James G. Hessian begun his day like any other snow filled day. As the Engineer, his job was full to make sure things were in good shape and working properly. The Train he drove was a double header. This was a train in which had two plows on the front of the train to help throw the snow off of the track. It was considered a savior in a lot of snowstorms in being able to keep the track open and the schedule moving.

There had been an extremely heavy snowfall earlier that day with plenty of wind to throw it about. Drifts would accumulate in places along the track. One place that was infamous as a trouble spot for drifting was the Handarhan Crossing, a place in DeBlois, near Tignish. Because of this, men were posted there to keep that section of the track clear.At 6:30 that evening, a train had gotten stuck at the Handrahan Crossing. Despite the efforts of 24 shovelers, the train remained stuck, and it didn’t look like they were going to be able to get it out any time soon.

Men were posted up the track at the water tower to flag down any oncoming trains to alert them of the stuck train. The men had been working steady now for hours and making very little progress. The wind was battling against them, constantly replacing every shovel full of snow that was pulled away from the wheels of the train. They all knew it would be not until early morning before they would be able to get this train out.

As 1:30 in the morning approached, the men that were posted at the water tower surmised that the double header must not be coming for it was quite late. They began to walk down the track back to the other men who were still shoveling.

All of a sudden, they heard the train coming down the track. It was building up speed as if to hit the drift at Handaran’s Crossing with full force. The men waved their arms frantically, throwing rocks at the huge monster as it rolled down the track barreling down on the men.The Engineer didn’t even see the men. And how would they, given the fact that it was 1:30 in the morning and the only light was from a tiny lantern the men had with them.

With the snow drifting and the roar of the train drowning out anything and everything around, there was no way for the conductor to see around the huge blades of the plow on the front of the train.

The double header hit the drift and the other stuck train with such a smash that it split the coach car completely in half.

Four men were killed that night, including the engineer, James G. Hessian and one man, who was stuck under the wheel of the double header had to have both his legs amputated.

Because of this horrific accident, a man was permanently stationed at Tignish Station as to guard against something like this to ever happen again. Today, there is a monument at the old Tignish Station marking this tragedy.

As years went by, people have reported hearing a train whistle along that area of the track. Some have reported seeing a ball of light that comes down the track with great speed and then hovers in front of their vehicle before flying off into the night down the track. The tracks are no longer there. It has now been made into a walking path. But people still report hearing the train and seeing the light. Some say it is the Engineer looking for survivors. Others say it is the light of the train barreling down the track……that night reliving itself over and over again. I do know that there are not many people willing to go there at night and many who have, end up leaving with a tale to tell….