Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread

[Mike Fox]

Mark and Jay were also up there in the morning. We took a walk down the mountain after the last rails were laid. I was very glad to receive the help to get the track built. Hoping Fred leaves one flat car empty for potential use Saturday.

[Mike Fox]

Forgot to mention, in the photo of me on the excavator, look just above the bucket. That is Bryce moving in to hook the chain on the bucket to try and get the old culvert out of the way. That is as far as we could get it. It is solid full of material, and very heavy. I will move it when I can get over on the other side of it.

[Mike Fox]

The Wednesday crew paid a visit to the hole today, delivering stone. The old fashioned way..Jason was kind enough to share his photos..

TOM


Very end of track










Plenty of stone in there now..

[Jeff Schumaker]

How many more flat car loads will it take to get a base for the culvert?

Jeff S.

[Mike Fox]

Just the half they brought. I wanted a few tip car loads, but Jason suggested this way, and get it done all at once. I am going to make a bony type gravel with what is there.

[Paul Uhland]

Great photo coverage, especially the flying stone, courtesy of the shovel crew. 
Flat 118 got fixed in time...temp track laid to the EDGE of the washout...good-sized work crew. 
I bet that mud-stuffed old pipe is HEA-VY.
The small diameter pipe now used to temp drain this washout...will that be used farther north at  mini-washouts?
 

[Mike Fox]

The smaller pipe is for a cross culvert about 600 feet north, and the larger is for a pipe that drains an occasional wet area. Both to be installed this year.

[Mike Fox]

The weather report for tomorrow afternoon does not look promising, but we will do what we can. Hoping it passes without much activity.

[Paul Uhland]

Weather Underground sez possible Alna T-storm Saturday afternoon, but clear Sunday.
Good luck, am doing a rain un-dance. 

[Brendan Barry]

The first piece of the culvert was set in the washout out today.

Culvert loaded up on the flatcar.







The Kubota at the bottom of the washout.



Lowering the culvert into the hole.























Culvert set in the hole.

[Bill Reidy]

Wow!  Great set of photos, Brendan -- thanks for posting them.  Lots of progress today.

[Bob Holmes]

Truly amazing work by all you guys!!!

[John Kokas]

Gee, when you guys say you go to end of track, you really mean END OF TRACK!  My only question is that I assume you have a coupling for the two sections, why not place it on the one end to make joining easier?  Just curious..........

[Mike Fox]

The coupling slips on over the end rather easily and then clamps together. I did not want to put it on until ready to put the pieces together because I want to tar the seam.

I am more than pleased with how well setting it in went. We had several discussions as we progressed. Safety was priority. Prior to this I had thought and thought how to tie the crane down. The first picture shows how that was done.



Looking up at Bill from the hole.

[Paul Uhland]

Superb job!
Well done, Mike and crew, think youz passed Culvert Setting with an A+! No injuries, no damage, great technique. Those nearby 'anchor' trees came in handy.
And, contractor's fee...ZILCHO!
Even got a sneak peak at the new  sawmill siding platform.