This very large dinky toy arrived this week on LeBreton Flats at the Confederation Line LRT tunnel entrance.
It is like a front end loader, but photoshop compressed, flattened out. It will be used when the contractors “mine out” the tunnel. They will be drilling into the tunnel face and removing the debris with this loader.
During the planning phases of the LRT, City staff and consultants talked about using a boring machine to dig into the rock face. But the winning proposal used mining techniques.
The smooth tires is a bit of a surprise. They seem way too smooth for the heavy task at hand.
Smooth tires seem to be common:
http://www.continental-specialty-tires.com/www/industry_de_en/themes/applications/hidden/mining/mining_general_en.html
General Power Slick L4S and L5S
Completely smooth and wide flat tread provides excellent traction and even wear. Premium quality tread and sidewall rubber compound to provide maximum resistance to rock cutting, penetrations and tearing in extreme mining, quarrying and road building operations. Special nylon construction and compounding provides high carcass strength, excellent flex fatigue and impact resistance.
General UGS L3 and L4
Tread pattern provides good traction and the spaced voids offers minimum opportunity for rock penetrations, tearing or cutting. Premium quality tread and sidewall rubber compound to provide maximum resistance to rock cutting, penetrations and tearing in extreme mining, quarrying and road building operations. Special nylon construction and compounding provides high carcass strength, excellent flex fatigue and impact resistance. Excellent retreadability.
More info on the “R1700G UNDERGROUND MINING LOADER” is at: http://australia.cat.com/equipment/underground-mining/underground-mining-loaders/r1700g
More info on the standard tires is at: http://www.nwtire.com/Bridgestone-STMS-L5S-Tire-detail.htm?productId=5049282#/0
Apparently, those tires are made for resistance to cut and impact – a significant issue when working in mines.
Looks like the drill itself has shown up now, it was parked next to the loader on Friday afternoon.