rrnut282 The abutments are there for three or four tracks, had two for over half a century, and now has only one track.
Originally built in 1937, I believe. Any thoughts as to what the original intent of the expansion that never materialized, was? (lights fuse, and runs)
BaltACD rrnut282 Convicted One Overmod Shackles. This guy here, otoh, is much less of a mystery. I can see all the points of attachment for the shackles. Precast bridge beams coming from Pre-Stressed Concrete in Decatur, IN. The truck in the previous photo could be hauling bulk shackles, not shackles installed, ready for use. Several years ago I passed several trucks carrying overlength concrete beams North on I-95 in South Carolina. They were arranged such that the final wheelset on the beams were steerable with a individual having a seat, steering wheel and windbreak for his riding position. Did I mention that the temperature was in the upper 30's and it was raining. Everybody needs to have a job - that is one I would not want in those circumstance.
rrnut282 Convicted One Overmod Shackles. This guy here, otoh, is much less of a mystery. I can see all the points of attachment for the shackles. Precast bridge beams coming from Pre-Stressed Concrete in Decatur, IN. The truck in the previous photo could be hauling bulk shackles, not shackles installed, ready for use.
Convicted One Overmod Shackles. This guy here, otoh, is much less of a mystery. I can see all the points of attachment for the shackles.
Overmod Shackles.
This guy here, otoh, is much less of a mystery. I can see all the points of attachment for the shackles.
Precast bridge beams coming from Pre-Stressed Concrete in Decatur, IN. The truck in the previous photo could be hauling bulk shackles, not shackles installed, ready for use.
Several years ago I passed several trucks carrying overlength concrete beams North on I-95 in South Carolina. They were arranged such that the final wheelset on the beams were steerable with a individual having a seat, steering wheel and windbreak for his riding position. Did I mention that the temperature was in the upper 30's and it was raining. Everybody needs to have a job - that is one I would not want in those circumstance.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Convicted One Here is a picture of a neglected NS bridge in a neglected part of town. Former NYC/Fort Wayne & Jackson Still in light use, mostly as car storage. Then, less than two miles away we have this former PRR/Grand Rapids & Indiana that sits abandoned, tracks long gone, and not even a bikepath over it And then there is this bridge, Former PRR mainline,currently belongs to CSX, but the line is leased to C,F,&E and mostly used by NS as a connection between Cincinnati and Chicago. Technically a CSX bridge, but seldom, if ever used by them
Here is a picture of a neglected NS bridge in a neglected part of town. Former NYC/Fort Wayne & Jackson Still in light use, mostly as car storage.
Then, less than two miles away we have this former PRR/Grand Rapids & Indiana that sits abandoned, tracks long gone, and not even a bikepath over it
And then there is this bridge, Former PRR mainline,currently belongs to CSX, but the line is leased to C,F,&E and mostly used by NS as a connection between Cincinnati and Chicago.
Technically a CSX bridge, but seldom, if ever used by them
That last one might be one of my favorites, due to the pedestrian walkway on the right side, built like a fortress. Gee, that might be the best maintained CSX bridge in the state, and they (CSX) don't even use it.
Gee, that might be the best maintained CSX bridge in the state, and they (CSX) don't even use it.
The third view in the first post and the post above are different views of the same bridge for those playing from home and weren't sure.
Fun facts: I played a small part in putting in that "sidewalk." The steel painting came years later. I may or may not have ridden a hi-railer over that bridge as part of another project in the area. The abutments are there for three or four tracks, had two for over half a century, and now has only one track.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
OvermodWhy would vertical sag produce scrap? True, you'd do some kind of Sperry-like internal metallurgical testing to ensure there is no hidden cracking, but if it passes that test I don't see a necessary reason to reject it categorically. This ain't aerospace.
I don't know if this was a rail train that was taking new or relay rail to be installed in track somewhere or if it was 'pick up' rail that was being taken to a rail plant or to a scrap yard. Rail does not get abandoned it place when it is removed fromtrack - scrapable rail may lay alongside the right of way for several days or weeks, however it will get picked up and moved. If going to a Rail Plant, it will get fully inspected before its ultimate disposition is made.
However, note that in the photo posted by BaltACD, the rail is bent mainly in the vertical direction. Probably what happened after the knuckle broke, the train pulled apart for a pretty good distance - certainly more than what's shown in the photo - but still moving. The rail was then hanging in mid-air, but drooping down. Then the train came partially back together ('ran-in'), which compressed and buckled the rails further downward into the shape as shown. That portion of the strings is scrap, at least.
I see that the little gremlins at Kalmbach IT are messing with the posting utility again. Can the new forum 'experience' be far away? Can't they just pay them off with saucers of warm milk or referrals to North Pole workshops or whatever, and actually hire real IT techs who can get the job finished and be done with it?
I don't think that picture reflects anything but a pull-apart in 'tension' and subsequent gravity sag of the rail 'span'. If there were substantial run-in you'd see some of those lengths bending laterally, which you yourself just established as requiring far less force, probably producing some net upward bowing of some of the upper and outer strings as a resultant -- see some of the other pictures of post-incident rail shapes in other pictures we have seen. There's also more than a little telephoto foreshortening in that image, no?
Why would vertical sag produce scrap? True, you'd do some kind of Sperry-like internal metallurgical testing to ensure there is no hidden cracking, but if it passes that test I don't see a necessary reason to reject it categorically. This ain't aerospace.
Paul_D_North_ Jr2. No cars shall be attached to a rail train other than its own support cars and a buffer car or two. Nor shall a rail train be moved in any other train. (Wonder if the MOW people warned about this but were overruled by an upper management-type . . . Whistling .)
When I was working, BEFORE PSR, that was the train handling instructions for rail trains. Rail trains could be dobuled together but no other traffic could be handled. Of course EHH and his version of PSR viewed such restrictions as archaic.
tree68 Convicted One It's amazing how flexible that stuff is.
Convicted One It's amazing how flexible that stuff is.
BaltACD Miningman Real or faked photo? Very real - happened near Thomasville, GA - PSR copuled a cut of loaded grain cars on the rear of a rail train (rail train cars are among the oldest the railroads own - they are not used in Interchange Service and thus can be older than FRA limits for cars used in interchange service).
Miningman Real or faked photo?
Very real - happened near Thomasville, GA - PSR copuled a cut of loaded grain cars on the rear of a rail train (rail train cars are among the oldest the railroads own - they are not used in Interchange Service and thus can be older than FRA limits for cars used in interchange service).
Johnny
Convicted OneIt's amazing how flexible that stuff is.
Every now and then a rail train will make it's way around one of the wyes (transfers) at Deshler. At least one person will usually comment in amazement that the train can make the curve.
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...
BaltACD A knuckle is a terrible thing to break
A knuckle is a terrible thing to break
It's amazing how flexible that stuff is.
Especially considering how I've seen rail segments sunk into the ground on property lines along alleys to protect garages from careless garbage truck drivers, that seemed to have NO GIVE in them what so ever.
MiningmanReal or faked photo?
Probably real. That's happened at least a couple times on CN over the years.
CN used to unload the rail by anchoring it to a second locomotive behind the rail train, and then having the lead locomotive pull the train ahead slowly. That practice ended after a string got away and smashed into the rear locomotive's cab, killing the Engineer.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Real or faked photo?
Took a trip 25 miles north to Dell Rapids, S.D. to look at former Milwaukee Road bridges on the Dakota and Iowa Railroad. They look pretty good, by the way. Some parts of their tracks have reflective stickers on the inside surfaces of the rails. They are red, reflective stickers about 3"x8" situated near rail joints. Any idea what that's about?
Convicted One BaltACD In a prior assignment for my father we lived in Auburn for a little over a year - 1st grade for me was in Aubrun. Were they still making Cords there at the time?
BaltACD In a prior assignment for my father we lived in Auburn for a little over a year - 1st grade for me was in Aubrun.
Were they still making Cords there at the time?
No - 1951-52
BaltACDIn a prior assignment for my father we lived in Auburn for a little over a year - 1st grade for me was in Aubrun.
Convicted One BaltACD Remember when Randolph Street was US 27 and I-69 wasn't even a pipe dream. B&O Depot was just the the East of Randolph Street on the South side of the tracks. To the West of Randolph Street, also on the South side was the Roundhouse for servicing power. I believe a Crossing Watchman operated the crossing gates that protected Randolph Street. Your memory sure is good Balt, I had forgotten all about that. Highway 27 continued north over the tracks until reaching what was also state route 8, and then veered east to Auburn before turning North once again and heading to Waterloo.
BaltACD Remember when Randolph Street was US 27 and I-69 wasn't even a pipe dream. B&O Depot was just the the East of Randolph Street on the South side of the tracks. To the West of Randolph Street, also on the South side was the Roundhouse for servicing power. I believe a Crossing Watchman operated the crossing gates that protected Randolph Street.
Your memory sure is good Balt, I had forgotten all about that. Highway 27 continued north over the tracks until reaching what was also state route 8, and then veered east to Auburn before turning North once again and heading to Waterloo.
And if memory serves from our vacation one year we lived there - US 27 continued all the way North through Michigan using the Mackinac Bridge to reach Sault St. Marie and thence into Canada.
In a prior assignment for my father we lived in Auburn for a little over a year - 1st grade for me was in Aubrun.
Convicted One Even more interesting, look at everything going on out by this little bridge west of Garrett Looks like a crew change point based upon the steps, the biggest switch heater I've ever seen on the platform to the right, and what appears to be a perennial spring rising from under the bridge?
Even more interesting, look at everything going on out by this little bridge west of Garrett
Looks like a crew change point based upon the steps, the biggest switch heater I've ever seen on the platform to the right, and what appears to be a perennial spring rising from under the bridge?
BaltACDRemember when Randolph Street was US 27 and I-69 wasn't even a pipe dream. B&O Depot was just the the East of Randolph Street on the South side of the tracks. To the West of Randolph Street, also on the South side was the Roundhouse for servicing power. I believe a Crossing Watchman operated the crossing gates that protected Randolph Street.
Here we go! I found a couple ag buildings with rusty steel roofs Must be one of those "drunken uncle" types I was mentioning earlier?
And, this odd little pathway, leading to what appears to be a bridge over a bridge over a creek
Convicted OneHere is a nice looking CSX bridge in Garrett IN. Of course it's only been around since 2000, when it was built as a much anticipated grade separation project. CSX paid 20% of the construction cost, with the state picking up most of the rest.
CSX paid 20% of the construction cost, with the state picking up most of the rest.
Remember when Randolph Street was US 27 and I-69 wasn't even a pipe dream. B&O Depot was just the the East of Randolph Street on the South side of the tracks. To the West of Randolph Street, also on the South side was the Roundhouse for servicing power. I believe a Crossing Watchman operated the crossing gates that protected Randolph Street.
Here is a nice looking CSX bridge in Garrett IN. Of course it's only been around since 2000, when it was built as a much anticipated grade separation project.
Murphy SidingWhy the protective ceiling over the walkway ?
The walkway is part of the Fort Wayne River Greenway, and after the wooden planks that were used when first built rotted out, they were replaced with vinyl tubes that were shaped and textured to look like wood. Think "vinyl siding" but molded in a rectangular tube shape, and you got the idea.
Kids trespassing on the bridge discovered that the vinyl was brittle during winter months, and would throw ballast rocks down on the walkway, with force, to break up the plank.
And I don't mean a shot here and a shot there, I'm talking about dozens and dozens of shots that were breaking all the way through the surface. To where you were at risk of falling through it you were not paying attention.
So they put up the frame work and the wire mesh to deterr vandalism. Then the sheet metal directly under the bridge was added later because the bridge would drip for days after a heavy rain, and the surface was extremely slick when wet.
Convicted One Here is sort of an interesting bridge, former Wabash over the St Mary's river in Fort Wayne. Along about 2004-2005 someone came through and marked up the sides with orange fluorescent paint...arrows with various multi digit numbers, likely detail numbers from some written report., and then nothing happened for a couple years. Eventually the marked up areas were spot painted to match the rest of the bridge. It looked pretty good for a while until the taggers came back Here is a detail showing a remnant of the orange marking
Here is sort of an interesting bridge, former Wabash over the St Mary's river in Fort Wayne.
Along about 2004-2005 someone came through and marked up the sides with orange fluorescent paint...arrows with various multi digit numbers, likely detail numbers from some written report., and then nothing happened for a couple years.
Eventually the marked up areas were spot painted to match the rest of the bridge. It looked pretty good for a while until the taggers came back
Here is a detail showing a remnant of the orange marking
BaltACDNote the word 'former'
I'm trying to be completely transparent. If you feel that I have been willfully misleading, please let me know.
Convicted OneHere is another interesting comparison .....still in Muncie Here we see a little rust coming through on a Norfolk Southern bridge Yet pan around 180 degrees and you find this former C&O bridge
Here we see a little rust coming through on a Norfolk Southern bridge
Yet pan around 180 degrees and you find this former C&O bridge
Note the word 'former' as I believe the Chessie System abandoned the C&O line from Cincinnati to Chicago back in the late 1970's.
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