Tuesday, October 6, 2020

BNSF replacing a wood trestle with precast concrete in El Dorado, KS

(Satellite)

Just a couple of days ago I remarked how I was surprised how much wood is still in railroad bridges. Evidently BNSF is also surprised. According to a comment, they are systemically removing their wood bridges.

It looks like they did one track at a time. Note in the first, fourth and fifth photo you can see a cute little railroad crane. But the second photo shows they brought in a crawler crane for the heavy lifting. An advantage of wood trestles was that they could be built, and maintained, without heavy lifting power.

Koleen Hansen posted five photos with the comment: "My husband, G.A. "Bud" Hansen, retired in 2015 after 42 years for the Santa Fe/BNSF, finishing his time as Structures Foreman. These are pictures of the replacement of Bridge 173.2 in El Dorado, KS in 2009."
Being retired After 43 years in Structures Dept. I still get out & see the men I worked with & Watch the rebuilds, replacing those worn out timber bridges that still serve the railroad well as the bridge boys take care of those bridges are getting close to hundred years old. Enjoyed my time for the Frisco & BNSF.
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They replaced the wood trestle on the north side of the bridge. But this 2019 street view shows that the south approach still uses wood.
Street View

Whoever is responsible for the trail doesn't trust the integrity of the trestle. I wonder what the track speed is across this trestle.
Street View

The spans over the river itself use steel girders.
Street View



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