Night Train at McLennan, 1970s, painting by Angus Mills (Alberta Railway Museum)

By Florence Loyie

(Edmonton Journal) It was in the wee hours of Dec. 11 that Jonathan Hambler decided to hop the train slowly rolling by him.  Dressed in cargo pants, a winter jacket and sneakers in the -24 C temperatures, Hambler thought he would knock some distance off his cold hike by hitching a ride.

“It was pretty much at a dead stop when I got on. But it picked up speed like right away. I waited too long, and then she was going way too fast.” As the train headed out of town, “I pretty much knew I was in a bad spot,” he said.

Although he was intoxicated, Hambler realized he was becoming hypothermic. Fortunately for him, he had his cellphone. He called his girlfriend but lost the connection, because it was a long-distance call. The next call he made was to 911.

Paramedics recorded Hambler’s core temperature at 32 degrees. At that temperature, internal organs start to shut down, and damage to the cells starts to occur. The body no longer shivers, and muscular co-ordination is gone. Hambler was taken to the Lacombe Hospital, where he spent the night. Surprisingly, he has suffered no ill effects from his frigid ride.

Read the rest: Freezing ride ‘a life changer’: train jumper.