Mackenzie Northern Railway General Manager Tim Husel came to Town council last week to talk about keeping pedestrians off the tracks. He didn’t expect to have to defend his company’s maintenance practices, but that’s what happened.
Husel took exception when Town Manager Jay Simons showed pictures of what appeared to be deteriorating rails through town. Simons said the Town took the photos following a bizarre incident in March when a section of rail in the Main St. crossing broke off and actually fell over on its side. If it hadn’t been spotted in time, and an oncoming train stopped, it would certainly have caused a derailment, he said.
Husel agreed that it was a serious situation, but pointed out that it wasn’t caused by train traffic. “Broken rails are an issue at public crossings,” he said.
Regarding Simons’ slide show alleging general deterioration of the rails through town, Husel conceded nothing. In fact he bristled with indignation.
“I don’t know exactly where these pictures were taken,” he said.
“We rail test twice a year. I’d like to point out that the pictures he took – he was trespassing,”
Husel defended his company’s maintenance procedures, saying, “There’s not a problem with rails that I’m aware of.”
He said the photos showed rails that are “within tolerances.”
As for the broken rail in the crossing, Husel blamed truck traffic, or possibly grader blades, compounded by sand and salt getting forced down onto the rails. He said the company can put heavier rails into crossings, but it requires the municipality to raise the approaches.
Asked about the current rough plank crossing, Husel said Mackenzie Northern plans to replace the planks with a concrete pad sometime this summer.
Moving on to his safety message, Husel said Mackenzie Northern is keen to work with communities on the education front. He cited recent fatalities in McLennan and High Prairie as reasons for taking it seriously. Improved enforcement will help too, he hopes, to convince pedestrians to stay off the tracks and to use approved crossings. He acknowledged that the situation is as bad as it gets in this community.
“Slave Lake right now is a fatality waiting to happen. We ask the Town to help us stop the trespassing.”
Husel said a recent change in legislation allows police to charge people with petty trespass if they are caught on the railway tracks. The fine is $200.
Council encouraged Husel to work with its Protective Services Committee to find ways of working together for the sake of safety.

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