A Canadian National coal train rolls through the loader at Teck’s Cardinal River Operation near Cadomin, Alberta, on August 8, 2016. This is the third section of the train and is taking its 50 cars through the loader so the operator can make an inspection of the empty cars before loading the train. The train will load with two ES44ACs on the head end, but once finished, will leave CN No. 2958 on the rear of the train and move the trailing unit to the other end to be used as lead power. This train will combine with the other two sections currently waiting at Bickerdike (near Edson), and then move west for export. Loading the train in three sections was necessary due to the 3% grades on this 5.5-mile line out of Leyland called the Luscar Industrial Spur. The mine produced steelmaking coal for 51 years and, unfortunately, ceased operations in June 2020.
