BELLEVUE YARD EXPANSION

摘要

This presentation will build upon the 2013 AREMA Technical conference presentation by Todd Willoughby, Norfolk Southern System Engineer - Design, that focused on the design and permitting challenges of the Bellevue expansion. The paper will provide an overview of the entire project with an emphasis on the construction phase. The presentation will also provide the next generation of railway design professionals a clear understanding of the general purpose of this type of rail facility, and the function of its components. In 1967, the Norfolk & Western Railway, a predecessor of today's Norfolk Southern (NS), opened a 42 track automated hump classification yard at Bellevue in northern Ohio. This location was a key intersection point of freight traffic. Planners provided room for future expansion and in November 2014, NS fulfilled this vision, by opening the expanded facility with 38 additional classification tracks and multiple arrival and departure tracks. The construction was originally planned to be complete in 2015, but increasing traffic in the second quarter of 2013 prompted the NS team to significantly accelerate construction. The presentation will walk through the expedited construction process, and highlight some of the unique design elements and construction methods that were utilized to double the capacity of a major classification yard while it was in full operation. Although the 1967 yard was always thought of as a 'modern' hump, the 2014 improvements added numerous process control elements, improved the electrical and mechanical systems that enhance operational efficiency, and created a safer work environment for the entire terminal facility. These items will be identified and discussed.