Canadian Railroads > Possible new siding near summit of Field Hill.

At CP's annual general meeting this week, when questioned about the February runaway on Field Hill, CEO Keith Creel mentioned that CP is contemplating a new siding near the summit of the Kicking Horse Pass, at a location where trains can recharge air brakes without the need to secure the train with handbrakes.

While the location has not been disclosed, there is a significant length of level track along the shore of Lake Wapta between Stephen and Partridge.

Both CP and CN are appealing Transport Canada's emergency handbrake order issued after the runaway, said Creel at the meeting also.

 

I know about 14-15 years ago when the "West Cap" projects were underway, there was a proposal to extend the double track from Stephen down to the old west switch at Hector. Of course nothing materialized, but now I could see it happening, especially now with Cathedral gone under EHH's cost cutting. 

Locotrol2 

Locotrol2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know about 14-15 years ago when the "West Cap"
> projects were underway, there was a proposal to
> extend the double track from Stephen down to the
> old west switch at Hector. Of course nothing
> materialized, but now I could see it happening,
> especially now with Cathedral gone under EHH's
> cost cutting. 
>
>Locotrol2

Didn't know Cathedral was gone. I see that Creel, a Hunter Harrison appointee remains CP CEO after the AGM.

 

i had no idea cathedral was gone too.  how long was cathedral siding?

66

goneon66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i had no idea cathedral was gone too.  how long
> was cathedral siding?

While this is not definitive, the 2019 Canadian Trackside Guide shows Cathedral siding in place and 5,921 ft. long. That's short by the standard of today's trains.

It was removed at least a couple years ago. The signal blocks have been adjusted as well, KickingHorse has noted that the sequence sounds odd on the radio when listening to trains moving through the area.

Posted from Android

Darren Boes
Lethbridge, AB
Southern Alberta Railfan

Timetable 32,Module 14, Laggan Subdivision, dated October 14, 2015 shows NO siding length for Cathedral. The track diagram does show a stub track facing East.

Tim
mp35mountain



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/19 06:38 by mp35mountain.

This problem could have been fixed years ago, but after blood has been spilled management has decided to go ahead in build a air brake check siding.

Posted from Android

The-late-EMD Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This problem could have been fixed years ago, but
> after blood has been spilled management has
> decided to go ahead in build a air brake check
> siding.
>
> Posted from Android

Westcap was short for Western Capacity Improvement Program. It was a several year plan for increasing track capacity along CP's Calgary-Vancouver corridor, and was the initiative of CP CEO's before Hunter Harrison did the proxy takeover. 

When Harrison was the CN CEO, he cancelled similar projects on that railway and actually removed double track put into service by previous CN managements.

It remains to be seen what CP's corporate culture regarding safety and productivity will evolve into .

The-late-EMD Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This problem could have been fixed years ago, but
> after blood has been spilled management has
> decided to go ahead in build a air brake check
> siding.
>
> Posted from Android


In the corporate world, this kind of thing happens all the time.

It will be interesting to see whether they actually build it or not.