Check out this photo I happened across on the web:
http://imgur.com/gallery/2VvhGGc
Pretty clever bit of recycling, I think. No indication of the location, but based on the design of the car and the rather arid landscape I'd guess somewhere in Asia, or maybe India.
Hey, waste not, want not. Although from the look of it if they want that thing to last someone better get busy with a can of Rust-Oleum!
Re-use of old flatcars (40 ft. +/-), some TTX (89 ft.), and even a few cut-down boxcars for this purpose have been in Trains or other publications from time to time, typically for private driveways over a creek or ravine, etc. This is the first time I've seen a passenger car, though.
Although it does look bad, in that dry environment it shouldn't rust too much more (pretty big river underneath, though). And it should have plenty of strength for the foot and bicycle traffic it's limited to. Kind of surprised they didn't open up the ends more to let larger animals and small carts, etc. use it as well.
Note that it's being supported under the vestibule, likely by the center sill extension for the draft gear and/ or any side sills and/ or the collision post structure. It's not supported at the truck bolsters which are the design points of support for vertical loads, and maybe 10 ft. further out from each end.
Wonder how they got it into that location and then across the stream ? A big enough crane in that kind of country seems unlikely. Maybe lots of guys on a rope ?
- Paul North.
A lot of guys on a rope? Possibly. A Union Army engineer officer during the Civil War said that it was "...no mystery to me now how the Pyramids were built. Put enough men on a rope and you can move anything!"
Paul_D_North_JrWonder how they got it into that location and then across the stream ? A big enough crane in that kind of country seems unlikely. Maybe lots of guys on a rope ?
I'm guessing some sort of staging was built - possibly directly from trees - to get it across the river. The car also may have been rolled, probably on logs, down one riverbank and up the other alongside the footings - lots of people (or livestock) pulling on ropes.
Once the car spanned the river, it could have been jacked up and slid over onto the footings.
Or not.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I think they still repourpose old flat cars as bridges acassionaly.
Modeling Conrail, May 31, 1984
Railfanning CSX, NS, and CN, 2016
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