Volume 14
Number 14
Oct. 24, 1984
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New Edmonton Terminal to Open in
November
by Earl E.
Olson
New Surface: Crews used a
specially-designed machine to install interlocking bricks at Edmonton's new intermodal
terminal.
Edmonton - A new
departure in surfacing and the latest in top-lift equipment are the features of CP Rail's new
intermodal terminal here.
The $14 million project, begun in the fall of 1983, is nearing completion, and is scheduled to be in operation
next month.
The new terminal will replace the existing operation near the city centre.
The new departure in surfacing involves the use of interlocking concrete blocks for the container and trailer
storage areas. Some 112,500 square yards (90,000 square metres) of the blocks are being installed by Westcon
Volker Steven, general contractors on the project.
This is the biggest single industrial application of the paving stones in Canada, and it is the first time the
stones have been mechanically installed.
Two machines, designed and built specifically for installation of the interlocking blocks are being used on the
project. The machines place about 1.25 square yards (one square metre) at a time on a
specially-prepared base.
The paving stone surface, used extensively as industrial pavement in Europe and to some extent in the United
States, has a greater resistance to extreme loads than traditional surfaces.
This results in a distinct maintenance advantage over the life cycle of the facility.
The terminal is designed to accommodate lift-on, lift-off operations for domestic
containers, trailers, and marine containers between the ground, rail car, and container
chassis.
Two new top-lift container handlers, each with a lifting capacity of 90,000 pounds (40,824 kilograms)
have been purchased for this purpose.
This equipment will make the Edmonton terminal operation the first in the CP Rail intermodal system designed
exclusively to top-lift trailers. At the existing terminal, trailers are circus-loaded
over end ramps.
The new terminal occupies 23.5 acres (9.4 hectares), of which 18.7 acres (7.4 hectares) is being surfaced for
operations and container and trailer storage.
"This project reflects our increasing activity in the Edmonton area", said E.P. Wahl, region manager,
intermodal services, Vancouver. "Our old terminal is operating at capacity and this new facility will give
us the room and equipment to handle the projected traffic well into the future".
This CP Rail News article is copyright
1984 by Canadian Pacific Railway and is reprinted here with their permission. All photographs, logos, and
trademarks are the property of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.
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