ETS Spring/ Summer 2012 Churchill

EDMONTON TRANSIT SYSTEM
Spring/ Summer 2012 Churchill - 95 St Project

Spring/ Summer 2012 was an interesting period! The primary project that occurred was the construction of the Churchill Junction just north of Churchill Station to connect the North LRT extension to the existing line. This complex piece of trackwork allows Metro line trains, as the NLRT is known as now, to branch off from the Capital line. In addition, there is a double crossover for the Metro line. That amounts to a total of 6 turnouts, 4 crossings. The southbound NELRT track has crossings of the northbound NLRT track, as well as both legs of the NLRT crossover for a total of 3 crossovers. This piece of trackwork was built in Czech Republic, shipped to Canada, test assembled in the Cromdale yard (photo here), then disassembled and moved piece by piece and reassembled in the confines of the LRT tunnel. To accommodate this, LRT was single tracked from 95 St to Churchill Station, train frequency was reduced at peak time from 5 minutes to 7-8 minutes with trains being ran as 5 car trains. This was the first instanced of ETS regularly running 5 car trains. Minor work was done at both Central and Churchill with regards to platform lengthening to support 5 car trains. I'm guessing these two original stations were marginally too short on account of SD's being slightly longer than U2's. 3850 and the lo-railer with common to see helping with this project. PNR was the contractor installing the trackwork.
ETS completed a number of other projects concurrently.
Churchill Station platform edge tile replacement- replacing original tiles with tactile tiles. 3589 was used for hauling material and refuse out from this project.
Churchill Station to 95 St rail replacement- running rails replaced in tunnel up to the new junction. This was done by PNR as well.
Churchill Escalator replacement- although not dependent upon the single tracking like the other projects, escalator replacement did occur during a similar timeframe.

This was perhaps one of the most interesting times to see things happening on the LRT!

Test Building the Trackwork At Cromdale April 2012

On April 29, 2012 we find the junction to be installed north of Churchill Station assembled in the yard behind the Cromdale Garage. With
this work done, the trackwork will now be dismantled and reassembled in it's final place in the tunnels.

Preparations in the tunnels April-June 2012

April 29, 2012
3855 loaded with equipment to take into the crossover cavity north of Churchill Station. April 29, 2012
Crossover cavity looking north along northbound track. April 29, 2012
North end of Churchill Station looking north at the southbound track. April 29, 2012
Looking along the southbound track from the north end of Churchill Station.

May 8, 2012 and the start of work. The southbound track isn't cut back as far back as it will need to be, no doubt there's still more material
they want to bring in. Some concrete ties have started to go in through.

June 12, 2012 overall views of the work. June 29, 2012
Similar view to one above, but with rail in now.

Ballast Work and Tamping June 2012

June 7 2010 and 2401 on the E track extension, ex CN track. Note that in the next photos from June 12 the train has been wyed. June 12 2010 and 2401 dumping ballast at Churchill on the SB track.

June 12- Perhaps the first equipment onto the new trackwork? June 12- These photos were actually earlier in the day with the ballast dump going on a night, but, up on the surface PNR had a Mark IV tamper and either a Mark I or Mark II tamper on E track waiting to be used once ballasting was done to properly align and level the new junction. Not included here was the unloading of a SD-160 further down E track with 3850! June 12/13 were a pair of interesting days!

It was actually the evening of June 12/13 that the tampers headed into the tunnel, and here we see the Mark IV sitting inside Churchill on June 13. June 20- Tamping is done for now, back at E track.

Overhead Testing- I don't recall at this point if the overhead had been modified, but, I found 2011 in the tunnels one morning. Went home, grabbed my camera and headed back out.

July 4 and 2011 is in Churchill testing and measuring the overhead.

2011 outside the tunnels now, pan down.

More Testing and Random Stuff- U2 with clearance gauges for final testing EPOR in the tunnels, plus tile replacement and PNR working on the rail replacement for the SB tunnel.

July 6 finds EPCOR 3134 in Churchill. It wasn't carrying contact or messenger wire, but, at the very least it was another visitor during this work. July 8 and 1005 is sitting at Stadium Station fitted with the clearance gauges for final testing of the new track work. This is quite a few months later at Churchill, October 7, with the NB track complete as well and 3850 in the second image right back onto the new NLRT track.

Holland rail flash butt welding truck very early in the morning on June 13 waiting for the next days work. Later on on June 13, this Pettibone was being used to maneuver the lengths or rail for welding. Seen in one shot with a 5 car U2 passing, and length of rail already welded. Rail welding as a U2 consist passed by.

3589 in Churchill Station for tile replacement. You can see where the old tiles were removed and new base for the tactile tiles. This is on June 20. June 13- view of a train with the closed off SB track. June 20- view of the closed off SB portal. The gates are a temporary feature during construction activities.

Finished

July 15, 2015
Long since finished, but none the less, looking north along the northbound track.

This page last updated June 13, 2021

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Test Building the Trackwork At Cromdale April 2012


On April 29, 2012 we find the junction to be installed north of Churchill Station assembled in the yard behind the Cromdale Garage. With this work done, the trackwork will now be dismantled and reassembled in it's final place in the tunnels.
Preparations in the tunnels April-June 2012

April 29, 2012 3855 loaded with equipment to take into the crossover cavity north of Churchill Station.	April 29, 2012 Crossover cavity looking north along northbound track.	April 29, 2012 North end of Churchill Station looking north at the southbound track.	April 29, 2012 Looking along the southbound track from the north end of Churchill Station.

May 8, 2012 and the start of work. The southbound track isn't cut back as far back as it will need to be, no doubt there's still more material they want to bring in. Some concrete ties have started to go in through.

June 12, 2012 overall views of the work.		June 29, 2012 Similar view to one above, but with rail in now.
Ballast Work and Tamping June 2012

June 7 2010 and 2401 on the E track extension, ex CN track. Note that in the next photos from June 12 the train has been wyed.			June 12 2010 and 2401 dumping ballast at Churchill on the SB track.

June 12- Perhaps the first equipment onto the new trackwork?	June 12- These photos were actually earlier in the day with the ballast dump going on a night, but, up on the surface PNR had a Mark IV tamper and either a Mark I or Mark II tamper on E track waiting to be used once ballasting was done to properly align and level the new junction. Not included here was the unloading of a SD-160 further down E track with 3850! June 12/13 were a pair of interesting days!

It was actually the evening of June 12/13 that the tampers headed into the tunnel, and here we see the Mark IV sitting inside Churchill on June 13.		June 20- Tamping is done for now, back at E track.

Overhead Testing- I don't recall at this point if the overhead had been modified, but, I found 2011 in the tunnels one morning. Went home, grabbed my camera and headed back out.

July 4 and 2011 is in Churchill testing and measuring the overhead.

2011 outside the tunnels now, pan down.

More Testing and Random Stuff- U2 with clearance gauges for final testing EPOR in the tunnels, plus tile replacement and PNR working on the rail replacement for the SB tunnel.

July 6 finds EPCOR 3134 in Churchill. It wasn't carrying contact or messenger wire, but, at the very least it was another visitor during this work.		July 8 and 1005 is sitting at Stadium Station fitted with the clearance gauges for final testing of the new track work.	This is quite a few months later at Churchill, October 7, with the NB track complete as well and 3850 in the second image right back onto the new NLRT track.

Holland rail flash butt welding truck very early in the morning on June 13 waiting for the next days work.		Later on on June 13, this Pettibone was being used to maneuver the lengths or rail for welding. Seen in one shot with a 5 car U2 passing, and length of rail already welded.		Rail welding as a U2 consist passed by.

3589 in Churchill Station for tile replacement. You can see where the old tiles were removed and new base for the tactile tiles. This is on June 20.		June 13- view of a train with the closed off SB track.	June 20- view of the closed off SB portal. The gates are a temporary feature during construction activities.
Finished

July 15, 2015 Long since finished, but none the less, looking north along the northbound track.