By VIC HODSON

B.C. RAILWAY _ has
reported a 1982 operating
profit of $17.9 million - con+
siderably greater than its
meagre profit of $3.1 million
in 1981 - and now sees the
medium to long-term
outiook as being encourag-
ing. _

Current contracts for the
shipment of northeastern
coal to Japan will nearly
double the existing freight
movements in 1984, with the
possibility of substantial in-
creases thereafter, and it
hopes to see. some im-
provements in freight from
the forest industry this year.

In March of this year the
company moved into its
$15 million new head office
building at Lonsdale Quay.
The gleaming new building
features distinctive solar
bronze windows framed by
anodized aluminum = and
complemented by light-buff
concrete panels.

Its 15,140 sq. ft., spread
over six storeys, will accom-
modate nearly 500
employees - previously
dispersed throughout nine
different locations in the
Vancouver area. It will also
house retail and other com-
mercial tenants, including
yet another new restaurant
in the Esplanade West area,
and will provide access to a
landscaped terrace leading
to the new public waterfront
park. Two levels of under-
ground parking will provide
space for 230 vehicles.

B.C. Rail is now field-
testing a unique new traffic
control system known as
Location, Identification and

Photo submitted

B.C. RAIL operator monitors panel of advanced LIC control
system currently being tested by the railway.

Control (LIC) which was
researched and developed
by another North Shore
company, Glenayre Elec-
tronics Ltd. It is a radio-
controlled, computer-
assisted method of directing
and monitoring rail traffic.
The LIC system contains
built-in safeguards against
failure and is considered to
be a major contributor to
operating safety.

Some $3.6 million has
been invested by govern-
ments and B.C. Rail in the
system. LIC is currently be-
ing fully tested along 156
miles (251 kilometres) of
track in the Squamish sub-
division. Visual display units
(VDU) have been installed in
31 locomotives and five self-
propelled diesel cars and
these will show enginemen
their train speed and loca-
tion, plus dispatcher orders.

Unlike many other

railways, B.C. Rail is equip-
ped with microwave radio
and six existing stations are
being utilized in the new
system. With the addition of
LIC, 122 “transponders”,
which operate without a
power source and can be
sealed against the weather,
were laid between the rails
to signal the passage of trains
to computers in the North
Vancouver office. Here the
location of trains, and even
single cars, will be con-
tinuously monitored.

A major advantage of LIC
is its relatively low cost. To
fully implement the
developed LIC system will
amount to $23,000 per mile
compared with $140,000 per
mile for the long-time
developed contralized traffic
control system.

Worldwide railway _in-
terests are following the B.C.
Rail LIC tests very carefully.

Neighbour.

For over 40 years we’ ve been providing
financial services to the North Shore
community. Like the many other
organizations that contribute to our
community’s prosperity and vitality,
we grew up in the neighbourhood.
And like a good neighbour, we will

be here to serve the community for
many more years to come.

North Shore Community
Credit Union
¢ 1100 Lonsdale Ave (986-4321) © 1247 Ross Rd (980 6556)

- 1080 Manne Dr (986-116) > 3131 Edgemont Blvd (985 4221)
* 399 Dollarton Hwy North (929-8811)

B21 - Sunday, June 29, 1983 - North Shore News

oo . o¢

Til aiehi:
7 Vales

It has been our pleasure to serve the
business and residence of the North Shore
over the past 19 years.

We look forward to continued growth along
with our community.

Supplying chemicals to

B.C. Industry for

over twenty-five years

|, a \
CANADIAN cox WY

~ QE

industrial Chemicals
YOO Amherst Ave North Vane ouver