Rail Change Out Machine (*RCO) Carstairs AB

A Rail Change-out machine comes to Alberta from Ontario to install 1/4-mile rails. CWR (Continuously Welded Rail) was installed across Canada in the 1980s by both major RRs. This machine was the only one owned by CP Rail. It underwent extensive modifications before it came to Alberta. CNR owned 2 of them. They are all mothballed by now. This machine is 300 feet long and could stretch to 600 feet with 6 tie plate cars attached and parts and welding cars. I was the Mechanical Supervisor for Western Canada on this gang. There was a supervisor for the Prairie region, one for the East, and one Mechanical Engineer from the System to oversee the whole thing. We all worked together to make this monstrosity work. When it worked, it was terrific. One day, 3.2 miles of track replaced just south of Edmonton. But, when it was down, 60 to 100 men stood and watched a mechanic try to fix it. It was housed and worked on (winter overhaul) in the modified old TH&B roundhouse near Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. Thanks for watching

[@MrThatnativeguy]

Is that a detroit diesel 2 stroke V8 i see there?

[@BigBud309]

Yes it is. It saved us from a disaster when they put the wrong bearings in near Edmonton. They caught the problem after we ran it like that for 4 hours. He said had it been a 4 stroke it would have failed. There were 2 of these engines driving 13 hydraulic pumps.

[@BigBud309]

Good eye!