Ok, since this is "for fun" and yet a serious issue, I would like a little more engineer perspective on the following ideas. I never had the opportunity to complete my engineering degree but still thirst for knowledge, so please answer with a bend toward educating, not admonishing.
1. Build bases on either side and put a short girder bridge between them. I am assuming the ground underneath the remaining track is susceptible to the same forces that create the existing wash out.
2. Drive pilings down to the bedrock and put the tracks on a "pier"
3. Ok, so this might sound a little crazy...and it is probably too costly, but float the track. For reference, there are 3 freeway bridges that float on lake Washington in Seattle. These are not small, they are 4 and 6 lanes and do float on the water. The soil density in this area must be somewhat denser, would it be possible to make it work?
Again, just want to know more.
