Caption: On September 9, 1991, while travelling southbound at 45mph, Ontario Northland Railway (ONR) train 122 “The Northlander” was unintentionally diverted off the mainline through an open switch at Mile 225.8 of the Newmarket Subdivision in North Bay. The train had just been turned over to CN control for its journey to Toronto. Now lined on a siding, the train collided with CN SW1200RSu 7304 that was on a yard assignment. The switcher was sitting 257 feet from the main track, situated on a wye, waiting for the passenger train to clear. The resulting collision caused injuries to 60 passengers and 11 railway employees with 67 being minor and 4 serious. Many of the passengers were injured when falling luggage from overhead baggage compartments became projectiles. ONR FP7A 1517, which was leading 122, was heavily damaged and its cab was entirely separated from its body, which had overturned. Trailing unit FP7Am 1985, was being used as an electric generator had also derailed and suffered damage as well. Both ONR units were retired following the collision while CN 7304 would go on to be repaired after suffering significant damage to its cab. Ironically, it is still operating today at the Steel Centre in Parkdale Yard in Hamilton.
Almost three years after the collision, FP7Am 1985 is pictured languishing in the tall weeds seemingly forgotten at ONR’s deadline situated in the North Bay Yard with its wreck damage evident. According to the Trackside Guide the unit was retired in 1993 and was eventually scrapped in 2000.