While we’re on the subject of Canadian Pacific’s iconic headmaster, Hunter Harrison, a tip of my hat to Railway Age editor Bill Vantuono for this delightful scoop:
“The Canadian Transportation Agency on September 13 ordered Canadian Pacific Railway to immediately cease and desist ‘load testing’ and idling operations in proximity to its Locomotive Reliability Centre (LRC) at Alyth Yard, Calgary. CP, noting CTA’s apparent inability to recognize that railroads operate round-the-clock, on September 19 announced plans to close the LRC over the next few months and lay off 130 people.
“CP said its decision is the result of the order directing the railway to effectively shut down the Alyth LRC between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. ‘This order poses productivity challenges for service and maintenance work of locomotives during this ordered time,’ CP said. ‘It fails to recognize our 24-7 operational requirements and restricts our ability to provide service for customers in Calgary, throughout North America, and those relying on coastal ports for off-shore shipments.’
“In the coming months, locomotive repair and maintenance work, previously conducted in Calgary’s 60-year-old Alyth LRC, will be transitioned to other maintenance facilities on the CP network.”
Let’s see if I get this right: Canadian Pacific maintained locomotives in this neighborhood before most residents of Calgary were born. Now it becomes inconvenient to some who cannot stomach the sounds of railroads after dark. Harrison has most graciously assented and eliminated 120 jobs in Calgary. Who wins, who loses? My guess is that CP will find that the people of Revelstoke, Edmonton, Swift Current, or Moose Jaw can stomach the sounds and will appreciate the jobs. — Fred W. Frailey
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