Application: Dual-Winch Railcar Positioning Winch System
Customer: Union Pacific Railroad (UPR)
Location: Roseville, CA
Winch Model: Columbia WR40000-4A17-L-01
Line Pull: 40,000 pounds per AC electric winch
Line Speed: 5 feet per minute
Wire Rope Capacity: 128 feet x 3/4″ diameter wire rope
Power Source: 460 VAC / Three Phase / 60 Hz
Special Features:
- Tension roller
- Custom control panel
Why APPI:
Union Pacific Railroad (UPR), the largest railroad network in the United States, relies on a fleet of 8,000 diesel-electric locomotives to transport goods across 23 states in the West and Midwest. To ensure optimal performance and safety, each locomotive undergoes regular maintenance and inspection at UPR’s repair facilities, including the JR Davis Yard in Roseville, CA.
Moving out-of-service locomotives within the repair barn posed significant challenges, as using another locomotive for this task was expensive, complicated, time-consuming, and potentially hazardous. To streamline the process, UPR engineers sought a reliable and efficient railcar positioning winch system.
Allied Power Products Inc. (APPI) in Beaverton, OR, was selected to provide the winches and controls for a two-winch system. The Columbia WR40000 AC electric winches, mounted halfway down each side of the repair barn, met UPR’s requirements for design, line pull, line speed, wire rope capacity, and installation space.
The winches were equipped with free spooling to facilitate wire rope pull-off during locomotive hook-up and spring-loaded cable tensioners to maintain tight wire rope on the drum during slack line conditions. The IP66 motor and NEMA 4X controls offer protection against moisture and dust, ensuring reliable operation in the repair facility environment.
To provide a convenient method for changing direction when pulling locomotives in and out of the barn, APPI supplied a pair of 20-ton snatch blocks mounted on raised concrete pedestals.
While seemingly small in the grand scheme of UPR’s operations, these Columbia winches from APPI play a crucial role in keeping locomotives “on track” and maintaining the efficiency of the railroad’s supply chain.
Please contact us if you would like more information about this particular railcar positioning winch system or any of our other products and services.
