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Handrahan's Cutting

Handrahan's Cutting, Tignish, Prince Edward Island, C0B, Canada

Formally Recognized: 2001/08/03

Showing station house at time of 1932 accident; Alberton Museum
Train leaving Tignish Railway Station
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Other Name(s)

n/a

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/11/10

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

Handrahan's Cutting is located on the Confederation Trail (formerly the PEI Railway) in western PEI at Harper, near Tignish. A wooden cross and commemorative plaque mark the site of PEI's worst ever rail accident. The registration includes the area around which the wreck is believed to have occurred.

Heritage Value

The area of Handrahan's Cutting is significant as the site of PEI's worst ever rail accident which occurred in the early morning hours of February 21, 1932. A savage snow storm had been raging for days. A train became stuck in the high drifts and despite the work of two dozen shovellers, it would not budge. Other trains had been warned of the situation, however, another train came bounding down the tracks and directly struck the stuck train. Four people were killed and eleven were injured. Since then, the event has inspired a ballad and a painting and remains a dark episode in the history of the railway in PEI.

Source: PEI Heritage Advisory Committee Files

Character-Defining Elements

The following elements are reminders of the rail tragedy:
- the wooden cross
- the commemorative plaque describing the tragedy
- the remaining railway bed (now the Confederation Trail) and surrounding view

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Prince Edward Island

Recognition Authority

Province of Prince Edward Island

Recognition Statute

Heritage Places Protection Act

Recognition Type

Registered Historic Place

Recognition Date

2001/08/03

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

1932/02/21 to 1932/02/21

Theme - Category and Type

Developing Economies
Technology and Engineering

Function - Category and Type

Current

Historic

Community
Commemorative Monument

Architect / Designer

n/a

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

Located in the Culture and Heritage Division, PEI Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8 File #: 4310-20/H2

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

4310-20/H2

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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