IRM Photo Gallery :: Mainline Culvert Work on 9-1-2007

Mainline Culvert Work on 9-1-2007

21 images in this album

On Saturday morning, Dave Diamond, Jerry Lynn, Warren Llyod, Jim West and Jamie Kolanowski went out to do some discovery and possible repairs on the large hole that appeared nearly under the mainline at a 5ft diameter concrete culvert. There wasn't time to take a lot of pictures, but here are a few. After digging it out, a pretty large breach where the sections of pipe meet was found. It was determined that a long term repair will be required, but to get the railroad back in service we would make a short term repair. The long term repair will require the tracks to be removed in that location, and have all the pipes removed and reset into place, as this is the second hole found within 2 months in the entire length of the culvert. After the temporary repair to this culvert, we went to the one near MP 1.7 and dug that one out. There we found the last section of pipe had formed a couple inch gap which allowed the ballast to fall through. We removed that section of pipe, cleaned it out, and reset it into place.

This is what the hole started as, the cavity under this is about 5 feet in diameter and a few feet deep. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 229 times.

After moving a lot of material with the backhoe, Dave and Jerry taking a turn at digging around the concrete culvert by hand to locate the breach. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 234 times.

Yes it really is that deep, standing in the hole the tracks are above you. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 201 times.

Finally deep enough to see that the two sections of culvert were never properly fitted when installed back in the early 80's. You can also see where the breach was allowing the earth above to wash away into the culvert. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

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A little closer view. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

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A view showing the exposed area of the 60 inch diameter culvert. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 197 times.

Water still flowing out the north end, half way up the pipe. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 206 times.

This view shows the area partially washed out, and the area we dug out. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 191 times.

Same as above, but from the other side of the hole. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 196 times.

This time a bit further back. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 195 times.

As a temporary repair, we place some large aluminum plates around the breach, and a smaller one over the top of the two sections. Then placed some large stone and concrete chunks on top. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

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The very top of the two sections. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 194 times.

A 2 foot wide by 3 foot tall aluminum street sign was used to cover the side with the breach, then large material placed on top. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 199 times.

Time to fill it back in. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 179 times.

More backfill, compressing a bit as we go. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 183 times.

The drive back in got a little deep after lunch, luckily the 1200HP tow truck was right next to us to pull back a little bit and take a faster run to get through it. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 269 times.

At the smaller culverts near MP 1.7, Dave gets ready to backfill after we removed and reset one of those sections that had separated. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 215 times.

A view after removal, cleanout, and resetting into place. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 202 times.

Warren and Jerry doing some filling by hand between the two culverts. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 207 times.

The machine handles the rest. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 208 times.

New ballast was dumped over the top of this after the compacting stone was filled around the pipe. - James Kolanowski (jamesk)

Viewed: 237 times.

Album: Members Photos

Album: James Kolanowski