ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

The gauge checker being out explains a lot.

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[ijmorlan]

The gauge checker being out explains a lot.

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Question about the gauge checking process: how can the track be out of gauge when the ties are mass-produced complete with half of the clipping system pre-embedded? Or for embedded track, as they form it they install numerous ties which hold the rails at the correct distance while the concrete sets. If those are mass-produced, it seems like there would be little opportunity for gauge problems.

I guess what I’m really getting at is, do they do a gauge test because it’s cheap and easy to do and you really want to detect gauge problems with a gauge checker, not with an LRV? Or do they actually find gauge problems once in a while?

[Canard]

Yes, yes they do/did.

[Canard]

New concrete poured and curing at Borden & Charles.

   

   

[KevinT]

I caught 504 running in the yard under it's own power this morning:

[KevinT]

Two clearance issues caught in this video, first with the construction barrel at the end of the curb (not a permanent fixture) and then an issue with the "LRT This Lane" sign on the pole at the far side of the intersection.

None of these involved the actual vehicle, just the 'foam fingers' of the clearance rig.  These do however represent a worst case envelope that allows for expansion, contraction, and a little bit of rock and roll, so that sign will have to be dealt with.

The sign snagged during this test was moved lower down on the pole yesterday, it's now at approximately the same height as the yellow diamond speed limit sign on the opposite side.  That should be enough to keep it out of the clearance envelope.

[panamaniac]

I caught 504 running in the yard under it's own power this morning:

That's a first, I think?

[KevinT]

Nope, it did some runs under its own power in the yard on Dec 19. Mike Boos posted a photo of this to the Facebook group.

[chutten]

First I've seen one of our LRVs moving under its own power on this forum.

...it's really happening, isn't it?

[Canard]

I posted a video a few months ago of one of our LRV’s flying along the Test Track in Millhaven

[Canard]

Now that's how you show off your new LRV!

[Pheidippides]

They were installing some wooden boxes at the bottom of two of the catenary poles at Caroline/Erb today. They were wrapping them in tarps. One of them had a big blue extension cord sticking out. Any ideas what for?
   

   

The desire line for the path to parallel the tracks here is strong:
   

[Canard]

Likely for keeping recently poured concrete warm while it cures. I noticed this a little further down while riding my bike last weekend, by the Willis Way station. The extension cord was draped from pole to pole, which made me smile.

[ijmorlan]

The desire line for the path to parallel the tracks here is strong:

I’ll take some of the credit for that. When there was lots of snow a few weeks ago I made a point of establishing that path, not just walking through but stomping the snow down somewhat. I’m pleased to see that many others have now taken the same path. I think it’s safe to say that grass will never grow there. Anybody want to take wagers on when the Region will re-pave it the way it should have been from the start?

Incidentally there is another path through the garden parallel to the tracks on the other side where there also should have been an official path. I’ll be interested to see what that looks like in summer — there is no grass anyway, just mulch.

[danbrotherston]

The desire line for the path to parallel the tracks here is strong:

I’ll take some of the credit for that. When there was lots of snow a few weeks ago I made a point of establishing that path, not just walking through but stomping the snow down somewhat. I’m pleased to see that many others have now taken the same path. I think it’s safe to say that grass will never grow there. Anybody want to take wagers on when the Region will re-pave it the way it should have been from the start?

Incidentally there is another path through the garden parallel to the tracks on the other side where there also should have been an official path. I’ll be interested to see what that looks like in summer — there is no grass anyway, just mulch.

Lol....that's a good one.

It took till the second time I went to school, and 30 years after construction of the Davis Center (and the students paying for part of it) for the university to pave the mud path through the courtyard between the DC and the MC at UW.  Maybe the region will do better.