Train derailment in southwest Calgary sends several railcars tumbling into water

Emergency crews from Calgary and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are on the scene of a train derailment that sent a number of railcars into a large pond in southwest Calgary early Monday morning.

CPKC said in a statement that the derailment took place at about 7:30 a.m. just south of Stoney Trail and “the cars involved are carrying a mix of lumber, plywood, propane and argon.”

Argon is a high-pressure gas used in the welding and cutting of metals that can be dangerous to health in high concentrations, causing headaches, nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness and even death if exposure happens in an enclosed space.

The pond and surrounding wetland, which is located just west of Macleod Trail, between the communities of Chaparral and Silverado, is known as Priddis Slough — an important habitat for a variety of waterfowl and other animals such as deer, coyotes and foxes.

CPKC said a total of 13 railcars were involved in the derailment.

Photos from the scene show several crumpled railcars, with some of them lying on their sides in the water and what appears to be lumber floating in the water.

CPKC said, “There are no indications of any leaks from the tanker cars.”

There are no injuries reported and so far there’s no word on what caused the derailment.

However, Calgary police say that due to safety concerns, they are asking people to avoid the area and warn that traffic in the area may be affected as crews work to clean up the mess.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said, in a written statement, that it is also deploying a team of investigators to the scene of the derailment.