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Cass-Durbin https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44438	Page 1 of 2

Author:	leward [ Fri May 01, 2020 12:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Cass-Durbin
Looking for any news on the bridge at trout run news that would complete the Cass-Durbin connection? Except for some very vague postings it would appear the bridge project still is not moving along. There is NO letting info that would match the bridge on the WVDOT website. So is the project moving or will we be looking at 2021 or beyond?

Author:	msrlha_archivist [ Fri May 01, 2020 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
Leward: Have you reached out to the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad? I'd recommend contacting them directly via eMail or through Facebook.

Author:	leward [ Fri May 01, 2020 7:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
I have reached out and emailed everyone I could think of. Nothing -- no responses. All I can find is that the bridge is "supposed" to be under the direction of WVDOT. I can't find out if it will be built by contractors (bid) or by department forces. However if it is going to be bid, it is not on any letting schedule, and the bids are posted into July now. Given the time it normally takes government to write a contract after a bid, we may not see the bridge or the rail line opening in 2020. That would be a shame with all the $$ that has already been put into the line reconstruction. No idea though on why no information is forthcoming. The Durbin & Greenbrier website is basically static, only updated about once a year.

Author:

PMC [ Fri May 01, 2020 8:03 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: Cass-Durbin

The bridge in question, from the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Restorations Department Facebook page, their photo from October 2019. A post on said page two months ago (edit: by the op of this thread apparently): "I have looked monthly on WV Dot website for an upcoming bid for this bridge replacement. As of Monday this week, it is not on a bid schedule yet. Lots of bids between now and end of June, but not this bridge. Given that it takes over a month to get a contract once the bid occurs, and the time to construct, it would be very late in 2020 to have it completed unless a miracle occurs."

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Author:	WalterS [ Fri May 01, 2020 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
I do my best to reply to every comment on the DGVR Restoration’s Facebook page, but occasionally I miss some, especially when they become mixed in with replies under specific comments. The reason for no updates is because there is nothing to report at this time and it is out of DGVR’s control. We were feeling confident in early March that the project would be posted for bids soon, then COVID-19 happened and everything has since stalled. Trust me, we'd like nothing more than to share progress photos of the bridge installation, but unfortunately that will have to wait a little longer.

Author:	WVNorthern [ Sat May 02, 2020 3:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
From the photo, the bridge itself doesn't appear to be damaged. It's still on the pilings. Isn't the real problem the fact that the bank south of Trout Run was washed away? I would think that fill where the bank had been would be all that is needed, not a totally new bridge....unless the new bridge is to be a very long one to cross the creek (crick in West Virginian) and span the washout area.

Author:	nedsn3 [ Sat May 02, 2020 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
Agree with the above, the bridge itself looks intact, but I'd bet that a detailed investigation would show problems. Otherwise WVDOT would not spend the money to rebuild it. But, it looks like those Italian stonemasons way back when sure did a great job! Ned

Author:	Earl Knoob [ Sun May 03, 2020 3:08 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
When I worked for the D&GVR in 2015-6, I was told the Trout Run bridge survived the flood but the approaches were destroyed, and rebuilding the approaches was going to be a big project. I personally never went out to see the bridge at Trout Run, so I can't comment on its situation. I did later hear that the State was going to replace the washed out approaches with bridges, as opposed to simply putting in massive amounts of fill. From the picture above, it seem all the damage is on the south (Cass) side of the bridge, and the new bridge/trestle work is to be done on that end.

Author:	leward [ Sun May 03, 2020 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
So the bridge is going to be made longer/extended over the washout? Curious though how a RR bridge pretty much in the middle of nowhere falls under the auspice of DOT. Was the line formally abandoned through the STB?

Author:	Alan Walker [ Sun May 03, 2020 7:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
leward wrote: So the bridge is going to be made longer/extended over the washout? Curious though how a RR bridge pretty much in the middle of nowhere falls under the auspice of DOT. Was the line formally abandoned through the STB? If state or federal money is being used to fund the project, most likely the state DOT will be the agency to administer the project and issue the contracts. That’s pretty common practice. Of course, the bridge will have to be inspected to determine if it meets or can be repaired to meet current FRA bridge regulations.

Author:	WVNorthern [ Sun May 03, 2020 8:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
leward wrote: Was the line formally abandoned through the STB? There's an excellent article on the abandoned C&O Greenbrier Division at the link below: https://abandonedonline.net/location/ch ... -division/

Author:	Earl Knoob [ Mon May 04, 2020 1:41 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
I recall there were environmental concerns with bringing in new fill. Up to that point, all the reconstruction involved dragging the washed out grade back up out of the river to re-create the roadbed. The environmental folks did not want the D&GVR to bring down rock and dirt from above the RR to make the grade, but could move material back up from below. My thinking is there is no material left to "bring back up" to restore the grade here, so a bridge is going to replace the missing fill.

Author:

PMC [ Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:11 am ]

Post subject:

Re: Cass-Durbin

https://www.facebook.com/DGVRestoration ... 3943960483
"We are excited to announce that work has officially begun on the Trout Run Bridge project, the historic final step of restoring rail service between Cass and Durbin, WV for the first time since 1985! Over the past four weeks, West Virginia Department of Highways, State Rail Authority, contractors and Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad crews have been hard at work drilling and pouring the massive foundations on the Durbin side of the bridge. A total of nine holes were drilled into the hard bedrock. Due to the remoteness of the construction site, all crews, equipment and materials must be moved by rail from access points at Cass, Durbin and Hosterman. Drilling and concrete work for the foundations was completed on December 9th and equipment is currently being staged for work on the Cass side.
Although the final destination for the massive 36.5 ton soilmec SR-30 drill and CAT excavator is just a mere 100 feet away, crews must transport them 15 rail miles and 19 miles by road.
So what’s next? The construction crew will now repeat the process of drilling and pouring foundations on the Cass end of the bridge. While this work is occurring another team will be building the forms for the abutment on the Durbin end.
We would like to thank everyone for their interest in this project and look forward to welcoming you soon for a ride on the former C&O Greenbrier Subdivision!"

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Author:	Rob Gardner [ Fri Dec 11, 2020 10:39 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
Now having looked at these couple of photos of the piling and abutment locations, it is apparent to me that they are relocating the new bridge away from the river a good 20' to 30'. You can see the alignment of the track from the north approaching the bridge and it is no longer in alignment with the location of the current damaged structure. Smart thinking as these rivers tend to go crazy more often than not. Rob Gardner

Author:	PMC [ Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Cass-Durbin
"Here is a short video of the excavator being moved to the construction site at Trout Run to begin site prep ahead of drilling next week." (Edit:I believe you DO NOTneed to log-on to facebook in order to see this one). https://www.facebook.com/DGVRestoration ... 3510562193

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