tree68 Leo_Ames Beavers do a lot of important things for the environment and mankind. The problem for the railroad is that the varmints are opportunists. Why build an entire dam when they can just plug up a culvert? There are ways of constructing culverts that discourage said damming. I'm no expert on them, and figure that some culverts might not lend themselves to such contraptions. Up on Tug Hill, the beaver meadows (drained beaver ponds) were a great source of hay. According to NYS DEC, it takes about 100 years for the last trees to die off and fall once a new area is flooded.
Leo_Ames Beavers do a lot of important things for the environment and mankind.
The problem for the railroad is that the varmints are opportunists. Why build an entire dam when they can just plug up a culvert?
There are ways of constructing culverts that discourage said damming. I'm no expert on them, and figure that some culverts might not lend themselves to such contraptions.
Up on Tug Hill, the beaver meadows (drained beaver ponds) were a great source of hay.
According to NYS DEC, it takes about 100 years for the last trees to die off and fall once a new area is flooded.
I drive past Beaver Dams, NY located off NY 414 when I drive up to Watkins Glen to go racing.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The problem with culverts is that in a flood, tree limbs and other debris plug up the pipes causing water build-up.
Leo_AmesBeavers do a lot of important things for the environment and mankind.
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...
Beavers do a lot of important things for the environment and mankind. Post10 on YouTube for instance goes into some great depth in some of his videos explaining many of the benefits that they provide.
But hopefully if there's real problems interfering with humans that can't be easily mitigated in the face of persistent beavers, the decision makers have the sense to trap them and relocate them instead of indiscriminately killing them just for being beavers and doing beaver things...
tree68 BaltACD Everybody wants to blame beavers. We have someone on retainer...
BaltACD Everybody wants to blame beavers.
We have someone on retainer...
Next thing you know they will be fighting Buc-ee's
BaltACDEverybody wants to blame beavers.
Everybody wants to blame beavers.
rcdryeThe previous culvert probably dated back to the 1847 opening of the Rutland & Burlington. The four foot culvert should be OK for flow even under heavy rain. The killer here was the upstream failure of one or more beaver dams, causing an extreme surge condition. A lot also depends on the way the upstream side is laid out to funnel the flow. The July storms had several pockets of extreme rainfall in what was otherwise a "normal" summer rainstorm. Towns less than 20 miles away from Ludlow got ony a couple of inches, something most town road systems are built to handle. The Ludlow washout was similar to the washout on the (then) Central Vermont in St. George, east of Burlington, in July 1983. Seven inches of rain and a blown beaver dam later, the Montrealer found a large hole, causing one of the worst Vermont train wrecks in the 20th century.
The July storms had several pockets of extreme rainfall in what was otherwise a "normal" summer rainstorm. Towns less than 20 miles away from Ludlow got ony a couple of inches, something most town road systems are built to handle.
The Ludlow washout was similar to the washout on the (then) Central Vermont in St. George, east of Burlington, in July 1983. Seven inches of rain and a blown beaver dam later, the Montrealer found a large hole, causing one of the worst Vermont train wrecks in the 20th century.
The previous culvert probably dated back to the 1847 opening of the Rutland & Burlington. The four foot culvert should be OK for flow even under heavy rain. The killer here was the upstream failure of one or more beaver dams, causing an extreme surge condition. A lot also depends on the way the upstream side is laid out to funnel the flow.
The predecessor line, the Rutland, was plagued with flooding. And, I believe, flooding finally did in the Lamoille County Line, in Northern Vermont.
A few of us on here wonder if a proper H&H study was done prior to replacing the pipe or was it another case slapping a band-aid on in an emergency and hoping it holds. (Did they even look at what was going on upstream and downstream?)
(was just in Northern Vermont in late July after the flooding and it was scary looking at all the highway culvert replacement going on as a result of the flooding and washouts)
Fortunately, this railroad owned or had access to air dumps. (long story, but these rascals are worth their weight in gold if the mechanical department keeps up with the abuse these cars must endure)
Agree with Balt. - The ballast hoppers with manual Miner/MK doors underneath are hauling 1 1/2" main track ballast and the airdumps (Difco or Magor) are hauling Rip-Rap (a mix with mostly the big stuff ... shortlines in western Kansas would kill for a ready supply of that)
The big CAT backhoe is pulling the rip rap off the doors so the doors can close and the piston drum air can exhaust in a confined work area. Normally the train would just pull forward to get the rip rap off the door and let the doors close normally. (no assistance from the CAT power backhoe needed)
I am skeptical that the replacement 36"(?) culvert at the bottom of the big washout will prevent the next washout.
The loads being carried in the side dump cars is not ballast, it is generally called 'rip-rap' larger sized stone that can be up to 'boulder' size. Rip-rap is generally used to build and/or increase the bank width on fills.
https://youtu.be/uKB5Kaiw9ds?si=aPKmRIbr5fQfzIlt
I took a three-day trip across Vermont, and I found some incredible things to document. The washout repair in Ludlow excited me more than anything else, prompting the "special release" video.
Harrison
Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.
Modeling the D&H in 1978.
Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"
My YouTube
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.