This project included study and design phases of a new automated locomotive wash facility at the Locomotive Maintenance and Inspection Terminal. The wash system is designed to handle an average of 100 locomotives per day. The study phase determined the type of wash system, the building configuration, equipment requirements, and environmental protection requirements. Based on the study, we recommended that the existing facility be demolished and replaced with a new PLC-controlled, brushless wash facility incorporating the latest environmental protection.

The fast- track design and construction of this project was divided into three phases: demolition of the existing wash facility; design and construction of the new wash facility building and utilities; and installation of the new wash system equipment.

The new wash facility is capable of re-using the treated effluent wastewater from the newly rehabilitated industrial wastewater treatment facility to reduce water usage. The inbound and outbound drip pads and the wash bay are equipped with a secondary containment liner with manual leak detection ports.

The site of the demolished wash facility is the location of the new wash facility. Its design includes four main function areas. The inbound drip pad provides concrete containment for draining the locomotive retention tanks before they enter the wash. Retention tank waste is discharged to the industrial wastewater treatment facility through a waste pretreatment system.

The wash bay is an open-ended, roofless, pre-engineered metal building. The building incorporates a high-volume continuous wash consisting of a cool-down/pre-clean cycle, acid wash cycle, alkaline wash cycle, spinner wash cycle, and final rinse cycle. The concrete floor is equipped with an integral drain system, and wastewater is discharged to the industrial wastewater treatment facility.

The outbound drip pad is a waiting area for locomotives after washing is completed. This area provides concrete containment for collecting excess wastewater that drips from the locomotives. The locomotive retention tank valves are closed at this location.

The support area houses the office, chemical feed equipment, pumps, and the electrical switchgear and controls. The chemical and water storage tanks are housed outside and the retention tank pre-treatment system is underground.