The worst accident happened on Labour Day in 1926. Thirty freight cars carrying lead and zinc ingots and coal began the long downhill journey toward Hope. When the train started to pick up speed, the engine driver pulled the brake lever. But after a hiss, there was silence. There was no air left in the brakes. The crew tried to slow the train using hand brakes. But the slope was steep, and the train was already moving too fast. The runaway train thundered through Jessica station with flames leaping from the brake shoes. The caboose and three coal cars broke off. The rest of the train flew into the canyon. There was a terrible crash. The locomotive and 25 cars burned. Four crewmen were killed. Sadly, some fruit pickers who had jumped on top of the train for a free ride were killed as well. Despite the accidents and natural disasters, the KVR had the best safety record on the continent.