Dundas (Hamilton), Ontario, Canada
On Christmas Night in 1934, Engineer Norman Devine served as a train’s Brakeman. Assigned and traveling on the “CNR Holiday Special”. On this night, they pulled the out of the Dundas Station. 365 passengers heading to Toronto for the holidays.
..: Quick Links :..
MISTAKE | DISTRICT | PUNISHMENT
by Ghost Guide Daniel
Then the crank pin started overheating. Mr. Devine made the decision to pull the train off the main track so he could assess the situation.
He pulled the switch to divert the train onto the sidetrack and then switched it back to the main track to divert on-coming trains past the Holiday Special.
Dundas Ghost Walks
Join us for our Ghost Walks in the historic (and haunted) Town of Dundas.
Was strange for the Brakeman to pull this switch. Normally the job of the official switchman, a guy named Edward Lynch. But Lynch wasn’t there, so Devine had no choice.
Mistake of a Switchman
The Holiday Special wasn’t serviceable. Stuck on the track just beyond the Dundas Station as Switchman Edward Lynch finally returned.
He saw a light in the distance. Knew this was the “Maple Leaf Flyer” going from Detroit to Montreal. Thinking the switch was still set to the Sidetrack, he ran, panicking… and flipped it again. Unaware the brakeman, Devine, had already done this.
Ran and flipped it. Then relieved to have avoided the disaster.
However, at 9:21pm, the Flyer hit the Special at full speed. Tearing through four passenger cars. Knocking one car to the edge of a 150-foot cliff overlooking Dundas Valley.
Bodies littered the tracks around the wreckage. Rescue workers searched through dark cars, finding the injured by seeking out their screams and groans.
15 bodies littered the train and tracks. 40 others taken to the hospital with injuries. In the end, 18 people died.
Called,
“The starkest tragedy to ever darkened a Hamilton Christmas.”
Hamilton Spectator
All happening in Dundas.
Did Dundas District School become a Morgue?
*DID THIS HAPPEN? (update 2026)*
The original belief was Dundas didn’t have a capable morgue to handle so many dead bodies. That the solution was to use the basement auditorium of Dundas District School just down the street.
However, recently (update 2026) it’s been brought to our attention the belief may not be true.
Through research of old newspaper articles, there is no mention of the school being used.
Instead … the bodies were immediately transferred to the General Hospital in Hamilton, or kept in the Dundas Station while rescue workers continued to search.
*If you have any additional information about this event, please reach out through our CONTACT FORM*
No Punishment
Edward Lynch and the Holiday Special’s Brakeman were blamed.
Later brought to trial on a charge of manslaughter. However, in the end, it was deemed an understandable mistake. The jury returning a verdict of “Not Guilty”.
Written by Ghost Guide Daniel
