Caltrain Centralized Equipment Maintenance and Operations Facility

The Caltrain Centralized Equipment Maintenance and Operations Facility (CEMOF) is a new train maintenance yard and facility located to the north of San Jose Diridon station in San Jose. [Google Earth images.] The USD $140 million maintenance station began construction in 2004 and opened on September 29, 2007. [Cite web|title=Caltrain Set to Open New $140M Maintenance Facility|url=http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?s=e894e0ecf18d36eea18dbe3835d26605&showtopic=20900&st=0&p=90046&#entry90046|publisher= Amtraktrains.com|author=sechs|date=2007-09-26|accessdate=2008-01-26] [Cite web|title=CEMOF Grand Opening|url=http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/09/29/cemof/|publisher="San Jose Mercury News"|accessdate=2008-01-26] The facility consolidates much of Caltrain's maintenance and operations into one location.Cite web|title=CEMOF: Centralized Equipment, Maintenance and Operations Facility: Fact Sheet|url=http://www.caltrain.org/project_factsheet_C_CEMOF.html|publisher=Caltrain|accessdate=2008-01-26]

History

Work on the USD $140 million project began in October 2004, with USD $105.8 million coming from federal funding and USD $8.2 million from state funding.. The construction phase of the facility lasted approximately three years from 2004 to September 29, 2007, when Caltrain held a Grand Opening ceremony. [Cite web|title=Caltrain Set to Open New $140M Maintenance Facility|url=http://www.ctrc.org/news/latest/caltrain-set-to-open-new-140m-maintenance-facility.html|publisher=California Trolley & Railroad Corporation|first=Jack|last=Young|accessdate=2008-01-26] The first shift of maintenance and operations crew didn't move into the new shop until October 21, followed by the second and third shifts in November. The last component of this yard, the fueling storage and station,Cite web|title=CEMOF Chronicle: Fall 2006|url=http://www.caltrain.org/cemof/pdf/cemof_newsletter/CEMOF_News_FALL_2006.pdf|publisher=Caltrain|accessdate=2008-01-27|date=Fall 2006] is scheduled for completion in Spring 2008.

Description

Caltrain's CEMOF replaced an old Convert|22|acre|m2|-2 Southern Pacific Railroad maintenance yard formerly located on the same site. The entire facility includes a central control building, a three floor, Convert|58800|sqft|m2|-2 maintenance shop, a machine to wash trains, one Convert|3000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on water treatment plant, a fueling station and railroad tracks for train storage. About 150 personnel work at the maintenance site and three shifts of workers keep the facility staff at all times.Cite web|title=CEMOF Chronicle: Fall 2007|url=http://www.caltrain.org/cemof/pdf/cemof_newsletter/CEMOF_News_FALL_2007.pdf|date=Fall 2007|accessdate=2008-01-27|publisher=Caltrain] The yard contains a Convert|250|ft|m|0 tunnel for personnel to cross safely under the active train tracks.

The maintenance hall contains a crane with a lifting capacity of Convert|25000|lb|kg|-3 and two Convert|800|ft|m|0|abbr=on service pits. This new building is said to improve servicing conditions, safety, and efficiency; it allows mechanics to work indoors rather than outdoors. [Cite web|title=The CEMOF Chronicle Summer 2006|url=http://www.caltrain.org/cemof/pdf/cemof_newsletter/CEMOF_News_SUMMER_2006_large.pdf|accessdate=2008-01-27|publisher=Caltrain|date=Summer 2006] [Cite web|title=Caltrain Shows Off New San Jose Maintenance Facility|url=http://www.theconcreteproducer.com/industry-news-print.asp?sectionID=1419&articleID=582240|publisher="San Jose Mercury News|date=2007-09-30|accessdate=2008-01-26|first=Deborah|last=Lohse] In addition, Caltrain can perform maintenance tasks once conducted by out-of-state contractors, such as wheel-truing.

An automated train washing machine washes half of Caltrain's fleet each day or at least twice a week, up from twice a year before the facility. The machine can clean a five-car train in about 25 minutes using water from two Convert|35000|USgal|l|-3. 80% of that water used in the cleaning process is reused to wash another train. The washer is located to the northwest of the maintenance shop.

Daily repair tasks are carried out in the Service &Inspection Area, a 80 foot (24 m)-high outdoor facility. There are two tracks that traverse the facility. In Spring 2008, a Convert|70000|USgal|l|abbr=on|-3 gallon fuel tank will be installed there to facilitate on-site fueling. The Service & Inspection Area is located to the northeast of the three story repair shop.

ee also

*Caltrain

References

External links

* [http://www.caltrain.org/cemof.html CEMOF Project main page]
* [http://railroadpictures.net/Other/Caltrain_CEMOF/ Pictures of the facility]