New Kate Shelley High Bridge

[KMCCLA]

I was wondering what was the status of the New Kate Shelley High Bridge. Some sources put it being close to being open, or was to open on or about the first of the Month of July. I have look, but have not found any current pictures of the new structure. Does anyone have any updates on how things are going with the bridge?

[cnwfan51]

If you go back a couple of pages on this site you wil;l see the update I posted it about 10 days ago but recieved no respones to it. That should amswer your questions   Larry  

[Soo 6604]

cnwfan51

If you go back a couple of pages on this site you wil;l see the update I posted it about 10 days ago but recieved no respones to it. That should amswer your questions   Larry  

I never saw that post. I'm also curious about the progress on the Kate Shelley. I like the updates to see how things are coming along just as the double/triple tracking of the Sunset Route.

[billio]

Soo 6604

cnwfan51

If you go back a couple of pages on this site you wil;l see the update I posted it about 10 days ago but recieved no respones to it. That should amswer your questions   Larry  

I never saw that post. I'm also curious about the progress on the Kate Shelley. I like the updates to see how things are coming along just as the double/triple tracking of the Sunset Route.

 

UP's corporate website (click Media/Regional news] tells (on April 17) of a late-June bridge opening.  Reportedly, the contractor experienceed a last minute construction casualty that would postpone the event by ten days.  Both "late-June" and ten-days after-late-June have come and gone.  The bridge isn't yet open.  Also, reportedly, the contractor incurs a penalty for each day past scheduled opening, meaning, given all the delays that have befallen this project, that it must be almost ready to pay UP to take the bridge.  Barring more bad news, one can only assume soon, probably by Labor Day.

[dknelson]

Those of us who are members of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society and who attended the annual meet in Des Moines had the pleasure of a trip to the bridge on the UP business train, going over the old bridge, stopping, and being allowed to walk out on the new bridge!   Then we got back on the UP business train -- pulled by the last two units in pure C&NW paint -- back to Boone for a picnic in the yard!  We were very privileged to do all this.  Our former President Dana Grefe arranged for it. 

  It was just days after that that an accident at the bridge site set back the schedule. 

Dave Nelson

[billio]

An update.  According to an Aug. 5, 2009 story in the Ogden (Iowa) Reporter, a mid-Iowa newspaper, UP expects to complete the new Kate Shelley Bridge in late August.  If I can find the daggone link again, I'll post it.

The story talls us that UP's track-laying equipment is starting to swarm around the bridge and its approaches, which presumably means that ALL structural work is complete.

[htgguy]

KMCCLA

I was wondering what was the status of the New Kate Shelley High Bridge. Some sources put it being close to being open, or was to open on or about the first of the Month of July. I have look, but have not found any current pictures of the new structure. Does anyone have any updates on how things are going with the bridge?

I just had a chance to go by there tonight and got some photos that I posted on my blog.

http://look4trains.com/2009/08/high-bridge-update.html

Looks like it is very close to done. Track is in place on the bridge and on each side, and signals are there but the heads are turned.

Jim

[jeffhergert]

billio

An update.  According to an Aug. 5, 2009 story in the Ogden (Iowa) Reporter, a mid-Iowa newspaper, UP expects to complete the new Kate Shelley Bridge in late August.  If I can find the daggone link again, I'll post it.

The story talls us that UP's track-laying equipment is starting to swarm around the bridge and its approaches, which presumably means that ALL structural work is complete.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1842&dept_id=335645&newsid=20352011&PAG=461&rfi=9

The story appeared in the July 29 edition.  Even then the tracks were already across the bridge.  The last couple of weeks they have been dumping ballast, tamping and lining the tracks.  A MOP last week said they should start cutting in the tracks in a couple of weeks.

The picture that appears with the article says the work equipment shown was staged for the high bridge work.  I think that actually it was with the curve gang that had been changing out rail east of town about that time. 

The other day while going past, there was a gang replacing a couple of pieces of rail on the west approach.  We had a good laugh at that.  Not even in service and already changing out rail.

Jeff  

 

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

jeffhergert

  [snip]  A MOP last week said they should start cutting in the tracks in a couple of weeks.

[snip]

The other day while going past, there was a gang replacing a couple of pieces of rail on the west approach.  We had a good laugh at that.  Not even in service and already changing out rail.

Jeff  

'MOP' = 'Monthly Operating Plan', or 'Manager of Operating Practices', or something else . . .

The rail replacement - yeah, that's funny.  Either that, or 'full employment' . . .

[jeaton]

Adding a piece or taking some out?  "Can I see those plans again?" 

[jeffhergert]

MOP = Manager of Operating Practices.  Most everyone else calls them a Road Foreman of Engines or Travelling Engineer.

Jeff

[CShaveRR]

Council Bluffs Service Unit newsletter now says "fall" for the opening.

I can remember when someone in the office told me to "Grab a MOP" for the answer to a question I had. Didn't know how cleaning the floor would help...well, almost!

[Falcon48]

UP has a lot of non-traditional titles for operating management personel.  I never understood why (and I worked for them).

[billio]

CShaveRR

Council Bluffs Service Unit newsletter now says "fall" for the opening. !

Why the delay?

[CShaveRR]

Don't know why--you might be able to get help from the folks who work around the bridge. I hope, when I return from vacation, to resume monitoring the general orders for that subdivision so I know almost immediately when the big event takes place.

[billio]

CShaveRR

Don't know why--you might be able to get help from the folks who work around the bridge. I hope, when I return from vacation, to resume monitoring the general orders for that subdivision so I know almost immediately when the big event takes place.

 

Carl, hate to say it, but given where I live (in Southwest Florida, a veritable railroad desert), my chances of dropping by are slim and slimmer.

[CShaveRR]

You misunderstood me here--what I'm saying is that the Forum members who regularly work in the area might be able to provide everyone with an update or information if something significant comes about. And, as I said, I'll monitor what I can.