CN 242 suffered a serious explosion when on August 9, 1941, when it collided with a stationary engine at the Turcot Yard in Montreal Quebec.
According to a report by The Winnipeg Tribune, the passenger train, bringing commuters from Vaudreuil, was turned on to a side track by an open switch as it was passing through the rail yard.
Lawrence Mahoney, the switchman, said the track switch had been opened five minutes before the passenger train was due to approach it.
[2] According to the Turcot yard-master, Patrick Donohue, visibility was poor on the morning of the accident due to a slight fog, smoke from other engines, and dust from a nearby construction job.
Lawrence Mahoney, the switchman, said that "The automatic indicators along the main line bore danger signals clearly visible to the engineer of the passenger train.