CShaveRR Jim, if you want to stay until it's finished, bring a tent...or give us a report on that B&B by the tracks over there! From what I've heard, they're assembling a new set of diamonds there (parts still coming in), to be replaced on the 20th instant. (That means the 20th of this month, for those of subsequent generations.)
Jim, if you want to stay until it's finished, bring a tent...or give us a report on that B&B by the tracks over there! From what I've heard, they're assembling a new set of diamonds there (parts still coming in), to be replaced on the 20th instant.
(That means the 20th of this month, for those of subsequent generations.)
Rochelle has a B&B?
....Beautiful photo and an artform of awesome assembly.
Don't see how the flanges miss intreference with those support pieces bolted inside each rail near each actual crossing.]
And i suppose it will take {and get}, the same level of quality of installation.
Quentin
You'd be more likely to see concrete ties if this were a major track upgrading on both railroads. But I suspect (perhaps MC or RWM can confirm) that a small stretch of concrete ties (like for just a diamond) isn't done, because of what it can do to adjacent track. If UP were doing its second track with concrete, that might be different, too. Or they might be able to persuade BNSF to put some more in.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
I'm surprised they are using wood ties. Would concrete ties shatter from the pounding? What about steel ties?
dknelson Well someone got a real nice shot there (the same photographer's photostream has some winners). I seem to recall that diamond was replaced about five years ago or so. Given the pounding it takes all day and night that schedule sounds about right. At least they have a good "staging" area near the Milwaukee Road caboose for it. I wonder what they do at Joliet when that diamond needs replacing. That would be a fascinating project to see. Dave Nelson
Well someone got a real nice shot there (the same photographer's photostream has some winners).
I seem to recall that diamond was replaced about five years ago or so. Given the pounding it takes all day and night that schedule sounds about right. At least they have a good "staging" area near the Milwaukee Road caboose for it. I wonder what they do at Joliet when that diamond needs replacing. That would be a fascinating project to see.
Dave Nelson
The diamonds at Joliet were replaced in 2005. Before that they were so rough that you could see sparks coming from cars going across it at night. They replaced the diamonds one at a time rather than all at once at Joliet
The current diamond was installed back in September of 2000, so it has been in place for more than 10 years. Suprised that the Union Pacific got all the pieces together for the new diamond so quickly, last time they had the pieces for it east of the depot for months before they got it together and installed. The parts for this round have only been on site for less than a month.
Lance
Let me try that again, since it won't let me edit my post-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35746972@N04/5176179085/in/pool-nar/#/photos/35746972@N04/5176179085/in/pool-18271007@N00/
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
Stumbled across a picture of the new diamond over on Flickr...
Get any screenshots? I still see the pile on the right.
I was wondering the same thing...I stopped by Rochelle for a McDonalds on my way to Dubuque today and watched for a quarter hour with a couple dozen other railfans...didn't look like a complete diamond repair but I was not able to stay until it was finished. It looked like they had both UP mains blocked and the two BNSF tracks as well.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE DIAMONDS TODAY, LOTS OF TRUCKS, NEW PILE OF SOMETHING, SAW SOME THERMITE WELDS BEING DONE, SMALL CRANE ON SITE.??????????
11/11/10 12:15 pm I watched work train dumping ballast on the diamonds just now.
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