The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 29 March 2018.
Uncontrolled movement, collision and derailment
Canadian Pacific Railway
Ballast train BAL-27 and
Freight train 293-28
Mile 138.70, Weyburn Subdivision
Estevan, Saskatchewan
The occurrence
On , at about 0515 Central Standard Time, southbound Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) ballast train BAL-27 rolled uncontrolled in the siding at Estevan, Saskatchewan, and struck a freight car on northbound CP freight train 293-28, which was stationary on the main track at about Mile 138.70 of CP's Weyburn Subdivision. The locomotive on ballast train BAL-27 sustained damage, and 1 car on freight train 293-28 derailed and sustained minor damage. No dangerous goods were involved, and there were no injuries.
Media materials
News release
November 2016 uncontrolled train movement incident in Estevan, Saskatchewan highlights deficiency with roll-away protection
Read the news release
Investigation information
R16W0242
Uncontrolled movement, collision and derailment
Canadian Pacific Railway
Ballast train BAL-27 and
Freight train 293-28
Mile 138.70, Weyburn Subdivision
Estevan, Saskatchewan
Investigator-in-charge
Glen Pilon has been with the TSB since 2008 as Technical Coordinator and investigator at the TSB Head Office in Gatineau, Quebec. He has been the investigator-in-charge of a number of rail accident investigations and has acted as train operations expert on many others. Mr. Pilon worked for the Ottawa Valley Railway (OVR) from 1996 until 2008 as locomotive engineer and safety officer and with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) from 1987 until 1996 in operations as trainman and conductor.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- 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.
- 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.