Moonman posted:Gregg posted:Thanks tommy. not exactly what I had in mind for a quick fix.. but you may be right. do it right the first time. .. How would you marshal your train heading to the wash out to start the project.... American hoist..... material to construct copper dam.. There's no place to unload much of the material....
The water is slowly receding with no current flow from one side of the right of way to the other.
How would you start the project?? Anyone else.?
Difficult indeed - which end has material and equipment?
I wasn't kidding about the Alaska RR. They can provide excellent examples as they encounter problems like this and have to regularly repair such damage.
Acquiring the equipment to make such a task will be a hurdle.
The ARR (and all railroads for that matter) have to get clever at times as snow melt can cause washouts when areas regularly vulnerable that have culverts get clogged. From John's Alaska railroad website, the MOW section, they show a work train attacking a washout that needed repair to permit the proper MOW equipment to get to the section.
The first car was a large flat with an excavator on it and then short hopper cars or ballast dumpers full of the needed size rock pushed by an engine
The ARR has their own quarry and rock crushers and have modified and acquired cars for hauling equipment and material. rail lifters, spreaders, tie machines and on.
Getting the line sturdy enough for travel could be accomplished by some experienced MOW personnel.
I would say that would be the most important resource to locate - then, let them say what they need. Engineers, surveyors, politicians, press, investors and such all like to talk and plan. Find some folks that know how to keep a line open. The long term rebuilds could come later.
Of course, a pile of cash would be needed to fuel all efforts.
Contacting the Canadian rail companies (CNR that maintained this line) or the railroad union may get some contacts of retired personnel. They won't give up or loan the current personnel as they are much needed. They are busy keeping the lines open. A project like this could be of interest to retirees for some extra cash.
I'm going with the" lets patch it for now...."
Consist.... From the south to north.... 3 units for power,( One might just pump air. Jordan spreader,assortment of bunk cars . 50 loaded air dumps.....Flat car with ties . spikes . jacks ,tie plates and whatever else the section crew may need. Last car and the one that will end up right next to the wash out.... A flat containing a front end loader , back hoe and a portable ramp.
Lets get started..... unload the front end loader and back hoe.... put the ramp back on the flat.
Dump 20 air dumps for starters....
Pull the train back 30 cars or so
Let the loader and back hoe fill the cut the best they until the section crews can replace any missing ties.
Keep filling in until the track will support a loaded car..
Now things can go a little faster... Dump whatever remaining cars are needed... Maybe even bring in the spreader, Track is jacked up above normal. It's going to settle. Track is now passable with a ten per slow order placed on it.
