ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

   

   

[plam]

We've talked about the lull in testing around 5pm. Just heard on the radio "all the operators are currently on lunch" at 5:20pm... so that would be it.

[jason897]

Chemtrain is heading south along the line right now!

[Spokes]

I love all of the pics/videos that are here and on social media. I just want them running for real!

[Canard]

I have to wonder if the Chemtrain time-shift was due to to tonight’s extreme cold (i.e., get up and back before it dropped too much further). Cold can affect railways in strange ways, like rails pulling apart - I’m sure everyone’s seen the viral videos going around of tracks being “set on fire” in the Chicago area.

[trainspotter139]

I have to wonder if the Chemtrain time-shift was due to to tonight’s extreme cold (i.e., get up and back before it dropped too much further). Cold can affect railways in strange ways, like rails pulling apart - I’m sure everyone’s seen the viral videos going around of tracks being “set on fire” in the Chicago area.

From what I've heard some of the Interlocking houses have been throwing low temperature warnings to the point that they've had to put auxiliary heaters in some of them

[ijmorlan]

I have to wonder if the Chemtrain time-shift was due to to tonight’s extreme cold (i.e., get up and back before it dropped too much further). Cold can affect railways in strange ways, like rails pulling apart - I’m sure everyone’s seen the viral videos going around of tracks being “set on fire” in the Chicago area.

From what I've heard some of the Interlocking houses have been throwing low temperature warnings to the point that they've had to put auxiliary heaters in some of them

Seems like a strange thing to mess up. How hard can it be to calculate the heating requirements for a standardized metal box? It would make more sense for a new house to have problems, given how complex it is.

I’m guessing they’re using electric heaters. A couple of 2kW baseboard units with a thermostat should take care of the issue. The signal hut should be airtight except for the door, and well insulated — again, much easier than sealing a house.

[Rainrider22]

From what I've heard some of the Interlocking houses have been throwing low temperature warnings to the point that they've had to put auxiliary heaters in some of them

Seems like a strange thing to mess up. How hard can it be to calculate the heating requirements for a standardized metal box? It would make more sense for a new house to have problems, given how complex it is.

I’m guessing they’re using electric heaters. A couple of 2kW baseboard units with a thermostat should take care of the issue. The signal hut should be airtight except for the door, and well insulated — again, much easier than sealing a house.

Not to mention this is Canada, this isn't the first time it has gotten cold !!

[Canard]

I suspect it has to do with the condition of the track on the Spur Line (i.e. pure crap) and rails pulling apart due to contraction in the cold.

[ijmorlan]

Not to mention this is Canada, this isn't the first time it has gotten cold !!

Right! Calculate and test the heat loss of the finished design, then at each installation take the coldest windiest day on record, subtract 10˚C and add 20km/h, and provide sufficient heating capacity to maintain temperature under those conditions. Very simple engineering, should not be a challenge.

[bgb_ca]

I heard 504's horn this evening for the first time after they came across an idiot driver in uptown. Damn that is loud.

[plam]

Happened to be above an LRV passing through yesterday...

[jason897]

[KevinL]

Happened to be above an LRV passing through yesterday...

We have surprisingly few places to do this. This bridge at UW, Manulife and Frederick downtown, and the Weber bridge are the only pedestrian-accessible spots I can think of.

[Bob_McBob]

I like the LRV hanging out at Northfield Station in the region's latest GIS aerial imagery.