November 2020 Work Reports

[John Kokas]

Universal signage would require a profile picture of a turtle with a green circle around it.

[Graham Buxton]

Turtle Crossings at Trout Brook dug out.

I don't see any reason to be shy (or hide) our turtle crossings. Make them obvious to everyone - paint the top surface of the tie on either side of the turtle crossing with white paint! [Easy and cheap, and post signs as to why the ties are marked.]

That makes it clear to any hikers  (or track inspectors) that might otherwise twist an ankle - and helps make clear to Midcoast Conservancy members (our neighbors)  that we support their objectives.

[Wayne Laepple]

I suggested the small yellow can lid, maybe 3 inches in diameter, as a discreet warning that would not distract from the scene, rather than something like ties painted white. After all, as noted, folks aren't supposed to be walking in the gauge unless they are inspecting or working on the track.

[Graham Buxton]

Very few paying riders are likely to see periodic   painted ties.  The locomotive is likely to obscure any 'forward' vision. Riders at the end of the train may see some, but is that bad?   

Embrace the turtles! 

[Jeff Schumaker]

How about a discreet sign, maybe a yellow can lid with black letters tacked to a tie on each side of the crossing, with the letters T.C. in black. After all, it is considered bad form to be walking in the gauge unless you are inspecting the track.

Yes.....but will turtles be able to read the sign? 

You beat me to it, Keith.

Jeff S.

[Eric Larsen]

We had to actually study up on this. I think we had planned one every 100 feet out from the bridge in either direction, for a few hundred feet. I had put some thought into making them, planking the bottom and having a top so foot traffic does not suddenly find a hole in the gauge.but the top has to be partially open so if a turtle becomes trapped in the gauge he has a way out.

Why not just leave ballast closer to the top of the rails in a few places.  If the turtle got in it can get out.  Unless it is a very unlucky turtle and it happens to decide to cross the rails exactly when the train comes rolling along  but then if that is what we are worried about, we need a turtle fence not a turtle crossing.  Is this a real thing or just another thread slide joke again?  Seriously.....

[Wayne Laepple]

It's real. During my railroad career, I found three or four turtles that had gotten trapped in the gauge and died. I also found one that had wedged itself into a switch frog and couldn't back out. It was also defunct. And I also cut a big snapping turtle in two that managed to get itself up on top of the rail and couldn't get off. By the time we realized what it was, there was no stopping.

[Joe Fox]

Switch looks great. Very well done. As a note, FRA track inspectors frown upon, and may require changing out of painted rails. As paint can hide defects. A simple mark on the rail is one thing, but long paint marks are a big no no to them. Maybe things have changed, or maybe the FRA inspectors I worked with were being sticklers. Just a word of caution should we decide to follow FRA practices.

[Mike Fox]

Eric, I can tell you that based on all the research we had to do, it is real. And what is amazing is that a 4 inch tall rail will act as a barrier to a turtle and can't get out.

And as far as turtles go, the painted turtle and the snappers were not the issue. There is another turtle which was more endangered where the potential was there for the immediate area around the bridge could be habitat. Remember all that silt fence? That was serving 2 purposes. Keeping silt in and turtles out. Or atleast limiting access.  All part of our permit application

[Stephen Lennox]

Joe, thanks for that information, we will be more aware when we get back to track inspection.

[John McNamara]

And as far as turtles go, the painted turtle and the snappers were not the issue. There is another turtle which was more endangered where the potential was there for the immediate area around the bridge could be habitat.

Blanding's turtle?

[Mike Fox]

Possibly John. I had been through so many types and habitats by the time we got the permits approved I forget which one we were looking for. As of the date of the permit, none had been spotted in the area.

[Benjamin Richards]

Why not just leave ballast closer to the top of the rails in a few places.

This complicates other things, like flanger operations. Jason and I spent part of Saturday specifically digging OUT the gauge in places where the ballast was heavy to address this.