Let me tell you about PEI’s worst train wreck which occurred on February 21, 1932, at Handrahan’s Cutting, just 1.5 miles outside Tignish.
The trouble began during a relentless snowstorm that had been battering the area for days. On the evening of February 20th, freight train No. 211 found itself trapped in a massive 30-foot snowdrift that had completely engulfed the tracks.
On that snowy evening, twenty-seven people were shoveling snow trying to free the train, but the strong winds were relentless, making their efforts futile. They realized they wouldn’t get the train moving until the winds died down the next morning. Seeking some rest, they huddled together in the small coach car to wait it out, passing the time by speculating about the whereabouts of the No 53 Express train, which had been due to arrive in Tignish hours earlier but was nowhere to be seen.
Two men were stationed further down the track near the Water Tower, tasked with warning any oncoming trains about No. 211’s predicament. This tower was a regular stop for trains to refill their water tanks. By 1:30 AM, with no trains having passed, the men returned to No. 211 to join the others in shovelling.
Just a short while later, the No. 53 Express train managed to push through the snow and stopped at the Water Tower to refuel. The engineer, familiar with the challenging conditions at Handrahan’s Cutting, knew the area was prone to heavy snow accumulation. Prepared for the task, his train was equipped with two engines and a steel plow, ready to power through the snow. With only 1.5 miles left until his destination and the end of his shift, he revved up the train and departed from the Water Tower.
Meanwhile, the men who had been at the Water Tower were nearly back to No. 211 when they heard the booming sound of No 53 approaching. They waved their lanterns and shouted, trying to catch the attention of the engineer as he thundered past them, but the drifting snow made them invisible to the passing train.
In a tragic turn of events, No. 53 plowed through the snowdrift and collided with No. 211, splitting the coach car in half. This resulted in the loss of four lives, and a dozen others being injured.
Today, a wooden cross and a commemorative plaque at the site mark the memory of those affected by this heartbreaking event, serving as a solemn reminder of the past.