Davey Tree Flipbooks

12 THE DAVEY BULLETIN | March/April 2020 RAILWAY LINE CLEARANCE BLOSSOMS IN CANADA, U.S. Davey's rail division is bulking up its fleet and increasing its capabilities in order to better compete in an increasingly competitive market. Both Canada and the U.S. have vast, complex rail networks that need professional vegetation management treatments within a tight timeframe each year. Under the Davey Tree Expert Company of Canada, Limited, the rail division added a modular vegetation management herbicide delivery system that will traverse the country from Montreal to Vancouver and back. Here's how the system works: There's a self-contained control car complete with crew quarters, and office space coupled with a workshop for any equipment repairs required while in transit. The attached "power" car contains a custom electrical generator and a complex centrifugal pump system. Bringing up the rear are 5 tank cars filled with water and the chemical prescription totaling almost 400,000 liters of onboard storage. Powered by a state-of-the-art Raven Viper 4 system, the spray train is run by two licensed operators, a shop mechanic, and a field clerk who rides the rails in a chase vehicle. "The system is designed with safety in mind, keeping crews from interacting directly with the chemicals during the application," said Darran Malcolm, vice president of operations, Eastern Utility and National Rail Management. "We've borrowed technology from the agriculture industry and adapted it to address the specific vegetation needs found within the railway environment. To account for advancements in technology and to service the changing needs of our customers, Davey's system is fully upgradable. In a perfect world, we can complete a full cycle within 60 days." On the U.S. side, Geoffrey Willis, operations manager, Utility services, said they've secured multiple new contracts and are also expanding their fleet. That includes three new high-rail pickups, two wheeled excavator mulchers, a 70-foot SkyTrim (picture a utility truck with a giraffe neck), a 70-foot reach bucket truck with a high rail system, and a high rail chipper. With the existing fleet of rail capable vehicles, Willis said Davey offers vegetation management and storm work both on- and off-rail – a huge advantage in the market. Aside from changes in climate, both divisions work within the framework of the railway signal system, fitting spray, trim and clearing work in between other trains coming down the tracks. With more advanced and specialized equipment, Willis said Davey can now offer more consistent coverage for multiple clients across North America. MISSION Left: In Canada, a modular vegetation management herbicide delivery system traverses train tracks from Montreal to Vancouver. Middle: In the U.S., rail operations are expanding. Right: The Canadian operation consists of several cars and is run by two licensed operators, a shop mechanic and a field clerk.

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