I love doing research.
Last year, I was asked about an accident that happened in the 1960s at a railway crossing in McGivney. A truck was struck by a train and dragged a long way, and the truck driver was killed.
The CN Napadogan subdivision runs through McGivney, and the CN Nashwaak and CN Miramichi subdivisions used to terminate here.
I did some research and found two accidents in the area:
- On August 16, 1968, Emile Joseph Savoie and Ronald Walsh were struck and killed at the crossing at mile 74.56. I believe this was the truck accident.
- On April 19, 1969, an MLA from Neguac, Dr. J.A.L. Savoie (a dentist) was struck and killed at the crossing at mile 84.96. This made front page news on the April 21 Saint John Telegraph Journal, with several articles and photos of the wrecked car. Emile Savoie from the previous year’s accident was a nephew of Dr. Savoie.
There were two train crossings in the area. The southern one was the track that the overpass is over now, the main line between Moncton and Edmundston. There was another crossing just north of there where the track from the Miramichi came down to join the main line. When the overpass was built, the Miramichi track was relocated to join the main line just east of the overpass.
The overpass was built in 1977. The Fredericton Daily Gleaner ran a photo of the construction in their July 22, 1977 paper indicating that the approaches were complete and the pouring for the concrete footings was about to start. The caption said there had been at least eight road-train fatalities at that location between 1960 and 1977.
I was unable to find anything indicating when the overpass opened for road traffic.
McGivney in 1973
CN’s October 28, 1973 timetable shows McGivney at mile 85.5 of the CN Napadogan subdivision.
At mile 85.6 (just west of the station) there was a junction with the Nashwaak subdivision (to Fredericton) and the Miramichi subdivision. The Miramichi track ran “behind” the train station and the track to Fredericton was one leg of the wye south of the McGivney yard tracks.
Track Relocation
While the overpass was being constructed, CN relocated the end of the Miramichi subdivision to a point east of the overpass, to remove the crossing over highway 8. The October 30, 1977 timetable shows the Miramichi subdivision joining the Napadogan sub at mile 84.9.
I annotated a Google satellite map to show the CN Napadogan subdivision (blue) and the former Nashwaak and Miramichi subdivision connections.
The Slane Spur
Also notable was the “Slane spur“, 1.9 miles, at mile 84.0 just east of McGivney. This was the spur line into the former military installation, #32 Ordnance Depot, opened in 1942. It became #32 Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot in 1966 but was closed in 1969.
I believe the site was acquired by a company (hence the “Slane Spur”) and operated for a few years. You can see the paths in the forest in a satellite view and the former connection to the main line is barely visible from satellite photos.
There is a note in the employee timetable about the Slane spur: “Air brakes must be 100% operative on cars during switching movements.” There must have been a significant grade on this spur. This reference was present in the January 6, 1980 timetable but was gone in the June 8, 1980 timetable.
One more detail on the Slane Spur. This January 1985 CN Car Control manual shows the Slane Spur had a siding, “EG28”, 10,065 feet. By that time the switch to the main line was removed or at least disabled.
Speed Limits
The speed limit through McGivney was between 55 and 75 miles per hour, depending on what type of train it was. A Railiner was a self-propelled diesel passenger car, often known as a rail diesel car (RDC). CP called them Dayliners.
Railfanning at McGivney
Everyone who railfans at McGivney goes to the CN depot just west of the overpass. Everyone! (me too) It’s easy and convenient. Drive in, watch the signals, grab a shot, drive out.
It would be a cool shot from the overpass. The problem is that it isn’t safe. There’s only a highway shoulder on each side and cars are whipping through there at 100 km/hr, not expecting anyone to be standing on the overpass. I would not recommend it.
That being said, I have taken a photo from the overpass. As described in this blog post, Disappointment, I just missed the detouring VIA Rail Ocean through McGivney. I stopped my car on the overpass, put on the 4 way flashers, and grabbed a couple of shots. Not recommended!
Just One More Thing
Check out this video “Behind the Scenes with CN Rail”, from 1992, following a CN train from Fredericton to McGivney on the CN Nashwaak subdivision. There’s lots of cab footage and the latter portion shows switching at McGivney. Check out those Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion coal cars!
