A virtual Canadian Pacific potash train - Date unknown Microsoft Simulator.

18 February 2012

A Pit-Stop in Pasqua

Pasqua Saskatchewan - Canadian Pacific Railway is using an alternative fueling site at Pasqua for some of its trains in Southern Saskatchewan, despite the high-speed refueling station in Moose Jaw.
 
Jim Wiens, the union representative from Canadian Auto Workers Local 101, said that the first trial run of bypassing the Moose Jaw station happened on 14 Dec 2011 and has been a trend until as recently as 13 Feb 2012.
 
CAW Local 101 represents workers at Canadian Pacific Railway in various parts of the country, including Moose Jaw.
 
Wiens said that Canpotex, the world's largest potash exporter, has started running longer trains.
 
"The company has made a publicity thing out of how efficient it is to run longer trains. They've found now that they can save time on fueling by not using our fuel station here in town. They've decided to bypass that and fuel these trains before they get into town," Wiens said.
 
Wiens said that he is mainly concerned for the environmental consequences that CPR could be risking in exchange for saving 20 minutes of time.
 
"The system wasn't designed to offload onto a truck. Where the truck parks, the spillage and staining on the ground is already happening there," said Wiens. "The biggest issue is problems they're already having at Pasqua and it could be a huge catastrophic failure at Pasqua."
 
Wiens said that he has been in contact with CPR and they insist that there are proper environmental safety precautions in place and there will be no adverse effect on the jobs of the workers that CAW Local 101 represents.
 
"We have been assured that everything is being done to contain anything that would, or could be spilt, that they're following all environmental procedures. Any witnessing our guys have done, there's no fuel containment at all when they're fueling these locomotives," said Wiens.
 
Austin Davis.