Component remanufacturing isn't necessarily what defines a shop as a heavy shop, back shop - perhaps. Noel, Selkirk is equipped to handle full trucks and engine blocks, although rarely performed. Mechanically speaking, work is generally broken up into four main aspects, light running repair, Q Line/Production Line Inspections, Heavy Repair and Backshop (which Selkirk definately doesn't do). Granted Selkirk doesn't remanufacture components (Huntington doesn't really either), even with Conrail heavy work constituted turbos, pa's and wheel sets. As previously mentioned, contractualy and for whatever insane reason, heavy work was transfered to Huntington and perhaps Cumberland - I don't have the Agreement handy. Consequently, SK no longer rewheels combos, however changes out alot of wheel sets (about 3 + each shift). For a long time Conrail and the Selkirk Diesel Terminal prided themselves as being regarded in the industry as the pro's with GE locomotives. Some older Machinists will recall remotoring FL9's there years ago. Basically, turbo's PA's and traction motors do indeed constitute themselves as heavy work - they all require overhead cranes (a backhoe will sometimes work well out in the field).
Backshop work constitutes of overhauling and component remanufacturing. Some of the most recent wrecks within the past five years were repaired right at Selkirk.
"does anyone know where the love of god goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
by Gordon Lightfoot
