Bridge replacements on RRs

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Two new bridges come to mind:

SEPTA's Crum Creek Viaduct:

http://crumcreekviaduct.com/ 

http://jbcassociates.com/portfolio/crum-creek-viaduct-replacement/ 

http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20161021/NEWS/161029910 

Norfolk Southern's (ex-Erie) Portageville, NY trestle/ viaduct:

http://www.mymalonetelegram.com/lcn01/construction-begins-on-portageville-bridge-arch-20170322 

- PDN.

[Paul of Covington]

IslandMan

Since steel manufacture involves costly plant and a skilled, specialised workforce it takes a lot of time, effort and money to build up a steel industry. It doesn't take long to dismantle it. A government too wedded to the idea of allowing world steel prices to dictate the survival or otherwise of steel manufacture will be caught out by governments which take a longer-term view. Steel is a fundamental strategic material. If China, for example, controlled world steel production it would put the country in an incredibly powerful position.

    When I think about what is happening to our industries, I think about WW II.   One of the biggest reasons we were successful is that we had the infrastructure and expertise in place to build tanks, trucks, ships and planes faster than they could destroy them.

 

[BaltACD]

Paul of Covington

 

IslandMan

Since steel manufacture involves costly plant and a skilled, specialised workforce it takes a lot of time, effort and money to build up a steel industry. It doesn't take long to dismantle it. A government too wedded to the idea of allowing world steel prices to dictate the survival or otherwise of steel manufacture will be caught out by governments which take a longer-term view. Steel is a fundamental strategic material. If China, for example, controlled world steel production it would put the country in an incredibly powerful position. 

    When I think about what is happening to our industries, I think about WW II.   One of the biggest reasons we were successful is that we had the infrastructure and expertise in place to build tanks, trucks, ships and planes faster than they could destroy them.

And were a similar kind of War to break out today - the US would be SOL when it comes to heavy industry.

[Miningman]

Yeah, no Eddystone, Schenectady, or Lima. No Pittsburgh or Philly, Some Detroit but c'mon. Don't think we can help out a whole lot either, certainly not like then. Even the Newfoundland Railway is gone. 

Won't matter anyway, some 14 yr old hacker can bring the entire thing to a standstill. Power, banking, security, military, government, all of it! 

 

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Maybe 15 - 20 years ago Norfolk Southern had an ad to the effect of "IT is nice, but trains are still useful to move the real things that people need." 

  That was around the time of the sign on the back of a Shay's tender that said "Y2K compliant". 

I suppose the current version of train orders would suffice - albeit at a greatly degraded level of service - in the event of a computer meltdown on the railroad. 

- PDN.