Not directly preservation related, but an interesting photo of a recent bridge collapse, I think in Texas. If this happened on a preserved RR, it might spell the end. How would one go about repairing such damage?

ryarger@rypn.org

Nothing there Bob.

I wonder what's going to happen when massive steel or concrete viaducts will need replacing.

Joshua

> I wonder what's going to happen when massive
> steel or concrete viaducts will need
> replacing.

That's what I was thinking about a bridge practically in my backyard. It's a former Reading Railroad, seven arch, reinforced concrete bridge and it's starting to fall apart. The tracks are currently owned by SEPTA and operated by a local railroad, the EPRY (East Penn Railway).

I took some pictures of the bridge last weekend and put up a quick webpage. Somebody on a web board mentioned that this would be a good modeling project....

If something happens to this bridge, I doubt that SEPTA would replace it, due to the limited traffic on the line, and that would kill chances of us getting passenger service restored up to Quakertown.

> Joshua

JimE

ex-Reading bridge in Sellersville, PA

jrevans@accuREMOVEsort.com

> Not directly preservation related, but an
> interesting photo of a recent bridge
> collapse, I think in Texas. If this happened
> on a preserved RR, it might spell the end.
> How would one go about repairing such
> damage?
Hey Bob,
I was unable to find your link, but wonder if you might be discussing a bridge on the UP, former SP, in San Jacinto County across the Trinity River. There apparently has been high water in the area, and undermined a center bridge pier. On February 19 the pier shifted as a 30-car UP freight crossed, causing the two adjoining spans to partially drop. Several cars were trapped on the damaged spans, and were carefully unloaded in place then eaased off the bridge. Very fortunate that the engines had mostly made it over before the bridge gave way, and the crew were not injured. Also fortunate that none of the cars or cargo went into the river.
If a preserved railroad or museum experienced such a mishap, I would imagine that it would be crippling. Maybe close the line permanently. Perhaps somebody here can make a better estimate than I, but I would estimate reconstructing the bridge would easily cost more than $1 million. Few museums could swing that, unless possibly some grant money, possibly Federal TEA-21 or equivalent could be obtained. grant money were available.
Link to a television story and some photos of the event.

TV story of UP bridge collapse in Texas
dan-rohrback@cox.net

> If a preserved railroad or museum
> experienced such a mishap, I would imagine
> that it would be crippling. Maybe close the
> line permanently. Perhaps somebody here can
> make a better estimate than I, but I would
> estimate reconstructing the bridge would
> easily cost more than $1 million. Few
> museums could swing that, unless possibly
> some grant money, possibly Federal TEA-21 or
> equivalent could be obtained. grant money
> were available.

To refresh your memories, the Wilmington & Western in Delaware is going through its second round of bridge replacement after Tropical Storm Henri in 2003.

Also, the White Deer & Reading RR, an adjunct of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter NRHS, suffered a very similar collapse of its tall bridge over White Deer Creek in White Deer, Pa. during a local flood a couple years ago. This unfortunately landlocks and isolates its Reading depot museum and its collection of freight and passenger cars (and one locomotive) from the rest of the rail network. The girders were rescued for reuse, but reinstalling the piers properly will probably only come if/when a freight customer shows up and requests service further to the north. They applied for FEMA monies and were turned down.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

> To refresh your memories,

Also don't forget Kinzua.

Bridges are not something to be cavalierly dismissed.

A chain is as strong as its weakest link...or something like that.

Many rail lines were abandonned by their owners for just that reason - a bridge repair was not economically viable versus the potential return. With the arrival of heavier cars, this problem will be exacerbated for the major railways and operating shortlines. Preserved lines may squeek by for a few years on limited repairs given the light loadings but the lack of capital & age will put them out of business too.

duncan_ev_campbell@hotmail.com