|
Hawker Siddeley Bathtub Gondolas were initially painted with red bodies but were later
changed to black - 2001 Grahame Morris.
The 348 steel
gondola cars being constructed for CP Rail at Trenton, Nova Scotia, by Hawker Siddeley Canada Ltd., at a cost of $6,000,000, are designed
for use in one of the most advanced unit train operations in North America. Delivery is scheduled for the last four months of this year.
The new cars will be assigned to a sophisticated unit train system developed by CP Rail to carry more than 3,000,000 tons of export coal
annually from the Crowsnest area in southeastern British Columbia to Roberts Bank superport, 20 miles south of Vancouver. The first unit
train is expected to enter service later this year.
"The equipment order is another example of the substantial economic benefits accruing to Canadians through the development of our
natural resources and the selection of an all-Canadian route for the movement of the export coal", said S.M. Gossage, vice-president,
CP Rail.
The new design development for the 105-ton capacity gondola cars features tapered sides and ends and a rounded bottom that is just one
foot above the rails between the wheel and axle assemblies.
"The configuration is unique and has several operating advantages", said H.W. Hayward, chief of motive power and rolling stock.
"It permits free flow of the coal during unloading, reduces the amount of residue left in the car to a minimum, and lowers the centre
of gravity of each car".
Each of the cars will be joined by a rotary coupler which will make it possible to turn the cars upside down in a special rotating dumping
device and unload the coal without uncoupling the train.
Placement of the car order with Hawker Siddeley moved CP Rail another step closer to launching its coal unit train system. In February,
the company placed a $19,000,000 order for 51 new diesel locomotives, including 21 units rated at 3,000 horsepower and destined for coal
service. The locomotives will be built in Montreal by MLW-Worthington Limited.
Montreal Locomotive Works built both C-630 and M-630 models. The C-630 models were numbered
4500 to 4507. The M-630 models 4508 to 4516 and 4550 to 4581. The M-630 models were powered by a 3,000 horsepower ALCO V16 4-cycle 251
turbocharged engine. Most of the M-630 units were renumbered early in their career due to installation of Locotrol 1 and Pacesetter slow
speed equipment in 1971 required for unit coal train service. All models were retired by 1995. MLW M-630 number 4508 - 8 Jul 1985 Earl
Minnis.
|
