Engineering employees replaced the master retarder and the west classification yard’s group 4 retarder on May 28. The job was completed in 10 hours, which minimized the outage. 

Chief Engineer Tom Lyons credited coordination between departments for the project’s success and extensive preparation by Signal team members. 

“Every department did its part to ensure it all went well,” he said, noting the 2024 project to replace the group 1 retarder also was completed on schedule. 

During the temporary shutdown, Track employees also installed new ties and performed surfacing in certain areas. 

“Everyone knew where they needed to be,” Lyons said. 

Asphalt was installed under the retarder. The rigid base will enhance stability, contribute to its longevity and make maintenance easier. 

Lyons said he was pleased with the project, especially considering it rained throughout the day.

“The most important thing was we got done safely,” Lyons said.