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Work Session March 23, 2019
To join the fun, contact the railroad at: WorkSession @ RedRiverAndGulf.net (no spaces)
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Team:
Objective: Address draining problems on Loop track near planer mill and on main line to Sandersville- Switch #2
Verdict - It's not as bad as we thought. Drains cleared and rock / cement placed to catch sediment to prevent erosion and build up instead. But more work is needed. Fortunately, no new drain pipes are needed.
Friday Size up problems on Loop Track near Planer Mill west side - Switch #2 Mike and I got down and sized up the draining problems - Large cavern opening underneath track and above drain on loop near planer mill west side - Fortunately, upon sizing up the pipe, it was intact! no replacement needed - However, work was needed to prevent further erosion from underneath track area and behind culvert and wing dam - Evidence was clear that heavy washout occurring and sediment ending up on far side of culvert on opposite side of track
Main line - just beyond final switch leaving engine house - There are TWO (yes that's right) two drains underneath train - One goes straight perpendicular to track, - One runs slightly diagonal to it - One is significantly lower than the other, carrying the bulk of the draining, but blocked by a large tire - Mike and I removed said tire, which blocked almost all of the drain entrance - Upon inspection (see photo of clay pipe) - drain is intact! which means the other (higher) pipe is collapsed, because we cannot see any daylight to other end
Saturday - Loaded 20 bags of 60 lb quickcrete concrete bags onto flatcar and motor car - Used wood beams, 10 bags of quickcrete and 4 bucket loads of gravel to close off a large hole behind the culvert wing dam up hill that was allowing water to wash out behind the culvert structure - This setup should 1) Block water into cavern 2) Begin to collect sediment over time - Concrete over hole at top of culvert busted up with sledge hammer for 1) Opening for work and 2) To place into cavern behind wind dam down hill side - Placed dozens of broken concrete pieces and several bucket loads of gravel into wash out area behind wind dam to collect sediment - Used remaining quickcrete bags, gravel, and dirt to shore up wing dam top - again, set up can begin catching sediment to prevent further washout - Gerald came with tractor to clear out drain ditch leading to culvert of vegetation and bring in gravel - less vegetation will improve water flow - During said clearing efforts, a buried piece of rail and claw bar uncovered
Other Notes - Used final hour of Saturday to mix a batch of herbicide - sprayed engine house lead lines, main line from engine house switches to loop track, loop track from saw mill to road crossing near Engine 400, and line from loop / main line switch to current end of track on wye line toward MoPAC Junction - I aim to make a point to spray at the end of each work session to control vegetation. I'd be glad to teach new volunteers this useful and easy task so that we can keep the upper hand in the great railroad vegetation war - Mike and I identified debris / vegetation that can be cleared on hill behind machine shop to improve drainage and hopefully avoid more water washing into machine shop
Next Steps - Use more gravel / dirt / cement bags to close gap on wash out near planer mill loop track - Use gravel / dirt to fill in sinking area underneath main line track washout, for it appears that clearing said tire will drastically open up more drainage - We may consider closing off said higher pipe on main line to prevent further water draining into a collapsed pipe
Next Work Session is April 19-20 - we should be able to close off these drainage issues then and begin efforts toward existing and future maintenance-of-way projects.
-Tucker Baker |
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