Edmonton Transit System LRT Service Support 3000 Series

EDMONTON TRANSIT SYSTEM
LRT 3000 Series Equipment

ETS maintains a fleet of specialized equipment to operate, maintain, and repair the LRT system. Some of the equipment is original to when the LRT was built, while other equipment has been added as the need arises, and the system expands. All of this equipment is owned by ETS, rather than via other City departments like the bus fleet is and seemingly other parts of the LRT fleet. Most of this equipment is rail mounted, while some pieces are high rail, or just trailers.

(Sources: Personal observations, Edmonton's Electric Transit, Various Editions of the Canadian Trackside Guide)

Thumbnail Unit # Date Description

3264 John Deere Gator Track Utility Vehicle- I can't say I've seen this diminutive member of the MOW fleet around much, and when I have it's usually just been around the DLM Yards.

3264 June 12, 2009 3264 inside the ROW building at DLM.

3400 CompAir 125- Yes, it's an air compressor. But, it has a fleet number, ETS decals, and fits into the ETS numbering scheme. So here it is.

3403 Geismar Tie Inserter- I can't seem to find any information on this device in Geismar's website. It's job is to help remove old ties and insert new ones. It seems like a semi-automatic device, in that it has to be manually moved (not self-propelled), and from what little I've watched of it's operation, it needs a lot of crew members. This is unlike some "full size" automated tie removal and insertation devices that only require one operator. I'm sure this however beats manually replacing ties, which I've seen crews do before.

3589 Ford L8000 hi rail, flat bed, stake side, with crane. This long term member of the LRT MoW fleet has been a very versatile piece of equipment. It's flat bed has seen it used to haul the skid mount water tank while the flat bed has been used for hauling everything from supplies for projects to debris from platform tile work. This truck is in the current LRT livery, having been upgraded from it's original "Flying E" and blue/ yellow stripes.

3589 April 26, 2003 3589 on display inside of DLM fitted with the water tank and with 7205 connected.

3589 September 6, 2003 ETS #3689 is about to enter the right of way south of Belvedere Station. This is appears to be a flatbed truck equipped with a skid with a water tank on it. This was in the area shortly before the rail grinder started working. This unit may have been ready to extinguish any fires that could start from the sparks from the grinding, however it wasn't anywhere near when the grinding was taking place.

3589 August 29, 2008 ETS #3589 at Health Sciences Station while ETS was upgrading the signal system on the south end of the LRT line.

3589 August 29, 2008 ETS #3589 at Health Sciences Station while ETS was upgrading the signal system on the south end of the LRT line.

3589 August 29, 2008 ETS #3589 at Health Sciences Station while ETS was upgrading the signal system on the south end of the LRT line.

3589 July 31, 2012 #3589 inside of Churchill Station. While the Churchill junction was being built, and 1 track out of service, ETS replaced the tiles on the platform edge with yellow, tactile, tiles. 3589 was used to haul supplies and refuse out.

3589 July 31, 2012 #3589 inside of Churchill Station.

3590 and 3591 RPM Tech Air Forced One- These two snow removal vehicles have a movable nozzle used to blow snow from the right of way. They are also hi-rail equipped. So far I have only encountered 3591 in use. I have seen it used down on south line, I've seen it used to clear "E Track", the Clareview tail track, and 1 time in particular illustrating the versatility of the machines, clearing switches from the side of the track while train service continued.

3590 June 12, 2009 #3590 inside at the DLM ROW building.

3590 June 12, 2009 #3590 inside at the DLM ROW building.

3590 June 12, 2009 #3590 inside at the DLM ROW building.

3591 March 5, 2009 My first encounter with 3591. I didn't realize this beast existed until this day. Down south of Health Sciences Station to clear turnouts and track before the first powered test runs of the line to South Campus.

3591 March 5, 2009 #3591 clearing the turnouts south of HSS for the first powered runs on the SLRT to South Campus.

3591 June 12, 2009 #3591 inside DLM, waiting to do battle with the next seasons snow.

3591 December 13, 2010 #3591 at 112 Ave. I don't recall the exact issue now, but, LRT was single tracking. This was before the NE Signal upgrades, so, the signal system wasn't bi-directional. As a result a LRT employee had driven this unit here so that they could manually operate the crossing gates.

3593 Bobcat T110- This piece of equipment fits right in with the existing snow removal equipment, and that's where I've seen it in use before. I've seen it used to clear around pedestrian crossings in the South, and at DLM along the concrete aprons outside of the doors at DLM.

3593 November 14, 2012 #3593 at Century Park.

3593 November 14, 2012 #3593 at Century Park.

3855 Curtis Hoover Tool Car- This car was used during the initial construction of the LRT. I am assuming that this is the tool car. I can't identify any fleet number in my photo of the car. Currently, it is stored off of the rails at DLM.

3855 September 27, 2012 #3855 stored outside at DLM.

ETS Tampers- ETS operates a pair of tampers with slightly different body styles.3857 is a Mark I Switch Tamper, and 3858 is a Mark II. Tampers are used to lift and line track, packing and adjusting ballast to correct deficiencies in track alignment to produce track that provides a smooth ride. Without tamping, the portions of the line built with ballast and tie construction could see deterioration of the track bed that would lead to slow orders and bumpy ride. Hopefully, I'll be able to dig up some original material, but, back in the 1980's LRT experienced issues with track, in particular between Coliseum and Belvedere. I believe part of the issue was the grade of wooden tie used. Track speed was reduced as a result, and, I wouldn't be surprised if that was what lead to the purchase of 3857 and and 3859. That section of track during the summer of 2016 was rebuilt with concrete ties, new ballast, and then had a crossover added.

3858/57 September 12, 2012 3857 (front) and 3858 on E track receiving maintenance.

3857 Fairmont Tamper Mark I Tamper- This tamper seemed to be the primary tamper in use when I first saw it in 2002. Back then I didn't have a scanner, or late night transit, to roam the LRT when beasts like this come out to play, so, it's derailment was the one and only time I saw it in service. The unit was under refurbishment during the 25th Anniversary Open House at DLM. After refurbishment it lost it's torsion beam and laser alignment buggies. As much as I've Googled, I can't find much on Canron. I suspect that they were a vendor for Fairmont Tamper.

3857 2002 ETS #3857 is a tamper built by Canron. #3857 is seen heading northbound into Belvedere Station while returning to the D.L. MacDonald Transit Yards after suffering a derailment just south of Coliseum.
3857 2002 ETS #3857 is a tamper built by Canron. #3857 is seen heading northbound into Belvedere Station while returning to the D.L. MacDonald Transit Yards after suffering a derailment just south of Coliseum.

3857 April 26, 2003 ETS #3857 seen inside of D.L. McDonald while being refurbished.

3857 September 24, 2006 ETS #3857 sitting on the northbound track just south of Belvedere Station.

3857 September 20, 2008 ETS #3857 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.

3858 Fairmont Tamper Mark II Tamper- I will speculate that this was a more recent addition to the MOW fleet. It does sport newer Fairmont Tamper Jackson and Harsco logos which makes me think it took over from 3857 as that unit lost it's torsion beam.

3858 September 20, 2008 ETS #3858 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.

3858 September 20, 2008 ETS #3858 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.

3858 September 20, 2008 ETS #3858 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.

Kershaw Ballast Regulator- This devices functions include sweeping off ties after ballasting and tamping operations, and profiling the ballast with it's wing plows. I'm not aware of this unit being used for snow removal, but, presumably it could be. ETS purchased this unit used in 1986 which was right about when they picked up other pieces of work equipment. It looks like in Fall 2016 some ballast profiling occurred North of Coliseum.

3859 April 26, 2003 ETS #3859 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.

3859 April 26, 2003 ETS #3859 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.

3859 April 26, 2003 ETS #3859 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.

3859 September 12, 2008 ETS #3859 outside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.

3860-3861 Portec RMC Typhoon Snow Blowers

3860 April 26, 2003 ETS #3860 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.

3860 April 26, 2003 ETS #3860 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.

3860 September 20, 2008 ETS #3860 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.

3861 June 12, 2008 3861 inside of the RoW Building at D.L. McDonald, undergoing rebuilding. Originally this was Union Pacific 173273

3862 1986 Whiting Rail Grinder- Used to profile the rail, I believe this piece of equipment arrived in the mid-1980s. I'm not aware of it seeing use in recent years, and typically, ETS has brought in outside contractors and equipment for rail grinding lately.

3862 June 12, 2009 3862 stored outside of DLM.

3862 June 29, 2011 Store outside of DLM.

3863 1987 Simon Aerials Lift This piece of equipment often made up a catenary maintenance set up on 3855. Believed to be retired now, it's use in this roll has been superseded by #2011.

3863 April 26, 2003 ETS #3863 is a Simon's aerial lift attached to ETS #3855 with a tower equipped with a pantograph attached at the other end making an effective line test car. Why is this unit on this page? It has regular wheels, but seems to spend most of its time on #3855 so it is used on either its wheels, or else sitting on a car running on rails.

3869 CAT 416C- This hi-rail backhoe is equipped with hi-rail wheels on the front bucket. The backhoe can be fitted with a tie inserter attachement.

3869 June 12, 2009 ETS #3869 inside of the ROW building at DLM.

3870 Hudson ROI Equipment Rerailing Trailer- A rarely seen piece of equipment, as fortunately, it hasn't been needed much! One of two piece of LRT equipment in full blue and silver livery. This unit is equipped with hi-rail wheels.

3870 April 26, 2003 Inside of DLM during the LRT 25th Anniversary,

3870 June 12, 2009 3870 inside of the ROW building.

3871 CAT Diesel Generator and Light Tower- This piece of equipment has been used to help with unloading LRV's, as well as seeing use on projects that run overnight.

3871 September 20, 2009 Inside of DLM.

3874 Oxford Industrial Products Hydraulic Ramps- Fitted to 2101, these appear to be hydraulic ramps that would be used to create a ramp to access a station platform.

7205 Vacuum Trailer While I've rarely seen this piece of equipment out, I believe it has been used for tunnel washing mounted on 3855. To an extent, this piece of equipment has been replaced by a hi-rail vacuum/ hydro excavator truck. I think I can see this unit in another image when it was in the City of Edmonton blue paint. While it's not in the full on blue/ silver livery, it's close enough and that makes it a rarity in the LRT fleet. I suspect that the fleet number is an original City of Edmonton fleet number.

7205 April 26, 2003 ETS #7205 at D.L. McDonald on display during the 25th Anniversary of LRT.

Unknown Genie Z-30/20N Lift- Found this lift one day. Not sure of the fleet number. I figure it's most likely within LRT's numbering.

September 10, 2015 Lift inside of Central Station.

7692 International Cargostar/ Edmonton Truck and Body Platform Line Truck- This truck is most likely an ex Edmonton Power unit used in the original LRT construction. I don't think it makes it out much these days, but, was used to string the SLRT catenary south from Health Science's Station as well as during the NE Power upgrades. The unit is in the current ETS blue/ silver stripes. Despite being ETS owned, I would imagine this rig is often manned by EPCOR crews, for catenary work anyways.

7692 2002 . In this photo, 7692 is helping fix the overhead line after a line pole had to be replaced as the tamper #3857 derailed at this location and damaged the line pole. Helping with this is EPCOR #B3600.

7692 2002 Rear of ETS #7692 taken at the same time as the above photo.

7692 April 26, 2003 ETS #7692 on display at the 25th Anniversary of the LRT.

7692 January 16, 2011 #7629 coming off line at 82 St during work to installed the 2nd messenger to support 5 car train operation.

7692 January 16, 2011 #7629 coming off line at 82 St during work to installed the 2nd messenger to support 5 car train operation.

7692 January 16, 2011 #7629 coming off line at 82 St during work to installed the 2nd messenger to support 5 car train operation.

Speeder- Presumably a parts source for ETS's speeder. It turned up at DLM in the mid-late 2000's.

Unknown September 12, 2008 A speeder at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.

Unknown September 12, 2008 A speeder at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.

June 2001 What appears to be a tamper being used on the LRT to help install a crossover north of Coliseum. I do believe it was A&B Rail who was installing the turnouts.

This page last updated November 15, 2016

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Thumbnail	Unit #	Date	Description
3264 John Deere Gator Track Utility Vehicle- I can't say I've seen this diminutive member of the MOW fleet around much, and when I have it's usually just been around the DLM Yards.
	3264	June 12, 2009	3264 inside the ROW building at DLM.
3400 CompAir 125- Yes, it's an air compressor. But, it has a fleet number, ETS decals, and fits into the ETS numbering scheme. So here it is.

3403 Geismar Tie Inserter- I can't seem to find any information on this device in Geismar's website. It's job is to help remove old ties and insert new ones. It seems like a semi-automatic device, in that it has to be manually moved (not self-propelled), and from what little I've watched of it's operation, it needs a lot of crew members. This is unlike some "full size" automated tie removal and insertation devices that only require one operator. I'm sure this however beats manually replacing ties, which I've seen crews do before.

*3589 Ford L8000 hi rail, flat bed, stake side, with crane.* This long term member of the LRT MoW fleet has been a very versatile piece of equipment. It's flat bed has seen it used to haul the skid mount water tank while the flat bed has been used for hauling everything from supplies for projects to debris from platform tile work. This truck is in the current LRT livery, having been upgraded from it's original "Flying E" and blue/ yellow stripes.
	3589	April 26, 2003	3589 on display inside of DLM fitted with the water tank and with 7205 connected.
	3589	September 6, 2003	ETS #3689 is about to enter the right of way south of Belvedere Station. This is appears to be a flatbed truck equipped with a skid with a water tank on it. This was in the area shortly before the rail grinder started working. This unit may have been ready to extinguish any fires that could start from the sparks from the grinding, however it wasn't anywhere near when the grinding was taking place.
	3589	August 29, 2008	ETS #3589 at Health Sciences Station while ETS was upgrading the signal system on the south end of the LRT line.
	3589	August 29, 2008	ETS #3589 at Health Sciences Station while ETS was upgrading the signal system on the south end of the LRT line.
	3589	August 29, 2008	ETS #3589 at Health Sciences Station while ETS was upgrading the signal system on the south end of the LRT line.
	3589	July 31, 2012	#3589 inside of Churchill Station. While the Churchill junction was being built, and 1 track out of service, ETS replaced the tiles on the platform edge with yellow, tactile, tiles. 3589 was used to haul supplies and refuse out.
	3589	July 31, 2012	#3589 inside of Churchill Station.
3590 and 3591 RPM Tech Air Forced One- These two snow removal vehicles have a movable nozzle used to blow snow from the right of way. They are also hi-rail equipped. So far I have only encountered 3591 in use. I have seen it used down on south line, I've seen it used to clear "E Track", the Clareview tail track, and 1 time in particular illustrating the versatility of the machines, clearing switches from the side of the track while train service continued.
	3590	June 12, 2009	#3590 inside at the DLM ROW building.
	3590	June 12, 2009	#3590 inside at the DLM ROW building.
	3590	June 12, 2009	#3590 inside at the DLM ROW building.
	3591	March 5, 2009	My first encounter with 3591. I didn't realize this beast existed until this day. Down south of Health Sciences Station to clear turnouts and track before the first powered test runs of the line to South Campus.
	3591	March 5, 2009	#3591 clearing the turnouts south of HSS for the first powered runs on the SLRT to South Campus.
	3591	June 12, 2009	#3591 inside DLM, waiting to do battle with the next seasons snow.
	3591	December 13, 2010	#3591 at 112 Ave. I don't recall the exact issue now, but, LRT was single tracking. This was before the NE Signal upgrades, so, the signal system wasn't bi-directional. As a result a LRT employee had driven this unit here so that they could manually operate the crossing gates.
3593 Bobcat T110- This piece of equipment fits right in with the existing snow removal equipment, and that's where I've seen it in use before. I've seen it used to clear around pedestrian crossings in the South, and at DLM along the concrete aprons outside of the doors at DLM.
	3593	November 14, 2012	#3593 at Century Park.
	3593	November 14, 2012	#3593 at Century Park.
3855 Curtis Hoover Tool Car- This car was used during the initial construction of the LRT. I am assuming that this is the tool car. I can't identify any fleet number in my photo of the car. Currently, it is stored off of the rails at DLM.
	3855	September 27, 2012	#3855 stored outside at DLM.
*ETS Tampers-* ETS operates a pair of tampers with slightly different body styles.3857 is a Mark I Switch Tamper, and 3858 is a Mark II. Tampers are used to lift and line track, packing and adjusting ballast to correct deficiencies in track alignment to produce track that provides a smooth ride. Without tamping, the portions of the line built with ballast and tie construction could see deterioration of the track bed that would lead to slow orders and bumpy ride. Hopefully, I'll be able to dig up some original material, but, back in the 1980's LRT experienced issues with track, in particular between Coliseum and Belvedere. I believe part of the issue was the grade of wooden tie used. Track speed was reduced as a result, and, I wouldn't be surprised if that was what lead to the purchase of 3857 and and 3859. That section of track during the summer of 2016 was rebuilt with concrete ties, new ballast, and then had a crossover added.
	3858/57	September 12, 2012	3857 (front) and 3858 on E track receiving maintenance.
3857 Fairmont Tamper Mark I Tamper- This tamper seemed to be the primary tamper in use when I first saw it in 2002. Back then I didn't have a scanner, or late night transit, to roam the LRT when beasts like this come out to play, so, it's derailment was the one and only time I saw it in service. The unit was under refurbishment during the 25th Anniversary Open House at DLM. After refurbishment it lost it's torsion beam and laser alignment buggies. As much as I've Googled, I can't find much on Canron. I suspect that they were a vendor for Fairmont Tamper.
	3857	2002	ETS #3857 is a tamper built by Canron. #3857 is seen heading northbound into Belvedere Station while returning to the D.L. MacDonald Transit Yards after suffering a derailment just south of Coliseum.
	3857	2002	ETS #3857 is a tamper built by Canron. #3857 is seen heading northbound into Belvedere Station while returning to the D.L. MacDonald Transit Yards after suffering a derailment just south of Coliseum.
	3857	April 26, 2003	ETS #3857 seen inside of D.L. McDonald while being refurbished.
	3857	September 24, 2006	ETS #3857 sitting on the northbound track just south of Belvedere Station.
	3857	September 20, 2008	ETS #3857 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.
3858 Fairmont Tamper Mark II Tamper- I will speculate that this was a more recent addition to the MOW fleet. It does sport newer Fairmont Tamper Jackson and Harsco logos which makes me think it took over from 3857 as that unit lost it's torsion beam.
	3858	September 20, 2008	ETS #3858 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.
	3858	September 20, 2008	ETS #3858 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.
	3858	September 20, 2008	ETS #3858 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.
Kershaw Ballast Regulator- This devices functions include sweeping off ties after ballasting and tamping operations, and profiling the ballast with it's wing plows. I'm not aware of this unit being used for snow removal, but, presumably it could be. ETS purchased this unit used in 1986 which was right about when they picked up other pieces of work equipment. It looks like in Fall 2016 some ballast profiling occurred North of Coliseum.
	3859	April 26, 2003	ETS #3859 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.
	3859	April 26, 2003	ETS #3859 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.
	3859	April 26, 2003	ETS #3859 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.
	3859	September 12, 2008	ETS #3859 outside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.
*3860-3861 Portec RMC Typhoon Snow Blowers*
	3860	April 26, 2003	ETS #3860 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.
	3860	April 26, 2003	ETS #3860 on display inside of D.L. McDonald.
	3860	September 20, 2008	ETS #3860 inside of the shop building at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.
	3861	June 12, 2008	3861 inside of the RoW Building at D.L. McDonald, undergoing rebuilding. Originally this was Union Pacific 173273
3862 1986 Whiting Rail Grinder- Used to profile the rail, I believe this piece of equipment arrived in the mid-1980s. I'm not aware of it seeing use in recent years, and typically, ETS has brought in outside contractors and equipment for rail grinding lately.
	3862	June 12, 2009	3862 stored outside of DLM.
	3862	June 29, 2011	Store outside of DLM.
3863 1987 Simon Aerials Lift This piece of equipment often made up a catenary maintenance set up on 3855. Believed to be retired now, it's use in this roll has been superseded by #2011.
	3863	April 26, 2003	ETS #3863 is a Simon's aerial lift attached to ETS #3855 with a tower equipped with a pantograph attached at the other end making an effective line test car. Why is this unit on this page? It has regular wheels, but seems to spend most of its time on #3855 so it is used on either its wheels, or else sitting on a car running on rails.
3869 CAT 416C- This hi-rail backhoe is equipped with hi-rail wheels on the front bucket. The backhoe can be fitted with a tie inserter attachement.
	3869	June 12, 2009	ETS #3869 inside of the ROW building at DLM.
3870 Hudson ROI Equipment Rerailing Trailer- A rarely seen piece of equipment, as fortunately, it hasn't been needed much! One of two piece of LRT equipment in full blue and silver livery. This unit is equipped with hi-rail wheels.
	3870	April 26, 2003	Inside of DLM during the LRT 25th Anniversary,
	3870	June 12, 2009	3870 inside of the ROW building.
3871 CAT Diesel Generator and Light Tower- This piece of equipment has been used to help with unloading LRV's, as well as seeing use on projects that run overnight.
	3871	September 20, 2009	Inside of DLM.
3874 Oxford Industrial Products Hydraulic Ramps- Fitted to 2101, these appear to be hydraulic ramps that would be used to create a ramp to access a station platform.

7205 Vacuum Trailer While I've rarely seen this piece of equipment out, I believe it has been used for tunnel washing mounted on 3855. To an extent, this piece of equipment has been replaced by a hi-rail vacuum/ hydro excavator truck. I think I can see this unit in another image when it was in the City of Edmonton blue paint. While it's not in the full on blue/ silver livery, it's close enough and that makes it a rarity in the LRT fleet. I suspect that the fleet number is an original City of Edmonton fleet number.
	7205	April 26, 2003	ETS #7205 at D.L. McDonald on display during the 25th Anniversary of LRT.
Unknown Genie Z-30/20N Lift- Found this lift one day. Not sure of the fleet number. I figure it's most likely within LRT's numbering.
		September 10, 2015	Lift inside of Central Station.
*7692* *International* Cargostar/ Edmonton Truck and Body Platform Line Truck- This truck is most likely an ex Edmonton Power unit used in the original LRT construction. I don't think it makes it out much these days, but, was used to string the SLRT catenary south from Health Science's Station as well as during the NE Power upgrades. The unit is in the current ETS blue/ silver stripes. Despite being ETS owned, I would imagine this rig is often manned by EPCOR crews, for catenary work anyways.
	7692	2002	. In this photo, 7692 is helping fix the overhead line after a line pole had to be replaced as the tamper #3857 derailed at this location and damaged the line pole. Helping with this is EPCOR #B3600.
	7692	2002	Rear of ETS #7692 taken at the same time as the above photo.
	7692	April 26, 2003	ETS #7692 on display at the 25th Anniversary of the LRT.
	7692	January 16, 2011	#7629 coming off line at 82 St during work to installed the 2nd messenger to support 5 car train operation.
	7692	January 16, 2011	#7629 coming off line at 82 St during work to installed the 2nd messenger to support 5 car train operation.
	7692	January 16, 2011	#7629 coming off line at 82 St during work to installed the 2nd messenger to support 5 car train operation.
Speeder- Presumably a parts source for ETS's speeder. It turned up at DLM in the mid-late 2000's.
	Unknown	September 12, 2008	A speeder at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.
	Unknown	September 12, 2008	A speeder at the D.L. McDonald Transit Yards.
		June 2001	What appears to be a tamper being used on the LRT to help install a crossover north of Coliseum. I do believe it was A&B Rail who was installing the turnouts.