CALGARY TRANSIT S200 “MASKED” CTRAIN MOVING NEWLY RECEIVED UNITS FROM CPR SPUR INTO TRANSIT PROPER

In this video, we see the entire transfer of “Mask CTrain” LRVs 2448 and 2449 from the Canadian Pacific Railway, to Calgary Transit; July 4th, 2018

The video is unusual, because there usually only one unit is delivered at one time but now, there are two. The complete order of “S200 Series 9” LRVs (being the 9th order of LRVs from Siemens), is 63 units, numbered 2401-2463. More details, on the web about the S200 “Series 9”, so named because it is Calgary Transit’s 9th order from Siemens since the late 1970s. The S200 LRVs are destined to replace Transit’s U2 cars (2001-2083), some are already retired.

New units arrive at the Calgary Pacific Alyth Yard (just southeast of downtown), from Siemens in Sacramento, CA; on a flat car, shrink wrapped and already painted in the Calgary Transit “Red and Black” livery, but without wheels.

From Alyth, they are switched by CPR to the 9300 Block of Horton Road SW; about 1 km (1/2 mile) south of Heritage LRT station; on a small siding, parallel to their Macleod Subdivision.

As soon as possible, Calgary Transit removes the LRV from the flatcar, using 8 large coordinated hydraulic jacks and slides the permanent bogies under the car. View an excellent video, showing removal of the flatcar from under a jacked-up LRV.    • Removing C-Train from Freight Car LRT Siem...  

After permission has been obtained from Canadian Pacific to hold any freight and Transit Dispatch, to delay a CTrain or two; a fence between the CPR mainline and Transit property is removed by CPR Maintenance of Way crew.

Meanwhile, Calgary Transit has coupled a rubber-tired Pettibone tractor on hi-rail to the LRV and the load is ready to be pulled from the siding, onto the CPR Macleod Sub and from there, across a fence into a south portion of the Calgary Red Line and eventually through a crossover into the Transit’s Haysboro Storage facility (Locally called: Haysbarn).

A normal transfer takes about 30 minutes, but this time, 2 LRVs were received, and the tractor proved slightly under-powered. A southbound CPR freight train of mostly oil cars, also briefly interrupted operations and, due to time delay, two revenue CTrains had to be let by. A CPR freight also held up the transfer (briefly shown)

As soon as possible after the car has entered Transit property, new LRVs are taken a couple of kilometres further south, to the “full-facility” Anderson Garage, for unwrapping, final component fitting and electrical bench testing. Following successful outcome in the shop, the finished car will then be run on a test track between the Anderson Yard and Canyon Meadows LRT station; after which it will be put in revenue service, usually by the next day or so.

After the move was completed, I was informed that the units would be taken to Anderson within the hour and I positioned myself down the line near Southland LRT station, waiting for the unusual load to arrive. Seeing a regular LRT coming to full stop, I almost missed the special load. The lead unit proved to be SD160 # 2255, which I also barely caught, heading back “light”, from Anderson to Haysboro after the move.

S200 LRVs are placed in revenue service in 3 or 4-car combinations and, due to electronics and coupler design, can only be paired to others of the same type. For those not familiar with the moniker “Mask” Train; the livery on the ends represents a Calgary Flames goalie mask, chosen by Calgarians from 3 options; the team colours are red and black. Also, DO NOT HUMP on the wrapping, means that the flatcars with LRVs aboard; must be gently coupled to other cars in freight consists through the various railyards, to prevent damage.

Finally, if it’s still online, the July 2018 (Volume 34 #7 issue) of “The Kirby News”, a periodical for seniors, has a splendid centre page layout of the transfer in 15 photos, including the jacking, transfer and unwrapping at Anderson Garage, of LRV #2442.

Enjoy watching something very unusual, and thanks. Sometimes in the near future, I will be posting four “View and Ride” videos on this channel, solely dedicated to the S200 and nothing else; covering the entire system (Blue and Red Line). As usual, fairly technical, no people, no commentary, just action inside and out, about 15 minutes each.