"The 300-ton Hydra-Slide was perfect for this job-
low profile, heavy duty, reliable.
This was the only option for this job."
-Angus Donald, Donald Rigging
Case Study: Moving a Retired Train
The Canadian Pacific Railway No. 5500, the first of Canada’s high-horsepower diesel locomotives, has been on display at the Revelstoke Railway Museum since November 2011.
Time and weather haven’t been kind, though. Recently, the Museum decided to embark on an ambitious restoration project, starting with moving the 400,000 lb locomotive to a better location.
That's where Calgary, AB-based Donald Rigging came in to get the job done using their HT300 skidding system.
The Move
The first step for the museum was to find out if moving the 80-foot-long, 400,000-pound CPR No. 5500 would even be possible, and Donald Rigging out of Calgary, Alberta had the answer.
Working together with Straight Up Construction and Revelstoke Crane & Rigging- both local companies based in Revelstoke, BC- they made a plan to jack the 200-ton locomotive up onto four lines of HT300 skidding system tracks, and slide it 60 feet onto a parallel set of train tracks.
Everything went smoothly, exactly as planned.
The Equipment
The HT300 system pictured here is one of our very first! Hydra-Slide was founded in 2011, and we fabricated this system for Donald Rigging in 2012; we’re pleased and proud to know that it’s still going strong.
Jobs like this one can be accomplished with a pretty minimal loadout: a skidding system, a set of hydraulic jacks, and a hydraulic power unit are all you need, each of which is available in a range of specifications that can be mixed and matched to suit the needs of the job.
There is usually a forklift or material handler on site as well, although with our low profile systems (XLP30, XLP150, and LP350) the entire set up can be done by hand.
The Value of Longevity
Longevity is one of the underappreciated aspects of hydraulic skidding systems. With robust and simple construction, few moving parts, and no electronics, skidding systems offer great return on investment for rigging outfits like Donald Rigging- with minimal maintenance and repair, they just keep on performing year after year.
While this move demonstrates the value of dependable equipment that lasts a long time, we think it also demonstrates the value of longterm relationships in our business.
At Hydra-Slide, we like to stay updated with all the cool work our customers are doing, and we put top priority on always being available for support.
Angus Donald- president of Donald Rigging- is a longstanding customer and friend of Hydra-Slide. When I asked him how it's been to work with us over the years, I was touched by his reply: "Hydra-Slide is a great product, but their team are even better!"
"The 300-ton Hydra-Slide is one of the cornerstones of our business- we use it daily.
In the heat of summer and the cold of winter, it never lets us down."
-Angus Donald, Donald Rigging
Get in touch to discuss your specific situation with us - we love to explore solutions for the most challenging moves.
