Concrete ties wear better and last longer than wooden ties. It saves money. Ballast is the rocks under the track. It allows it to drain water in wet periods and stabilizes the track and ties. Track, ties, ballast all together are called "roadbed." Victoria, Texas Not sure. Next summer, or so. That answer might be found earlier in this thread. Others may have better answers to these. Glad you stumbled on to TrainBoard and hope you will stay. We have several different forums depending on your train interest. Welcome to TB and your first post!!:thumbs_up:
grf- Welcome to TrainBoard! Ballast for a railroad is essentially the same purpose as what you'd see done for a roadway, before concrete or asphalt is poured. Support and drainage. Boxcab E50
Victoria happenings From the KCS web site, the line will be open late 2008 or early 2009. Earlier in the week I was in Victoria and they have started ROW clearing from the end of the line to the north. There was only 1 grader and 1 backhoe working and they had cleared about half way to the 59 overpass. I had read somewhere earlier that the line would be worked from both ends with the primary goal to get phase 1 of the intermodal center in Kendleton open. There was some work going on behind the scenes on a Victoria bypass, but the area that they just started clearing this week is in the area that would be bypassed so I guess that means that bypass may not happen until sometime in the future after the line is restored. Has any rail been laid south of Kendleton, I haven't been up that way in about three weeks? I have some pictures that I shot in Victoria to Rosenberg in a pre-existing album on rrpicturearchieves.
Y'all are great! Thanks for the information. Initially, I had thought the use of concrete ties were to implement high speed rail similar to what is used in the NE corridor on Amtrak. Now I'm just wondering if there are any plans to extend the line to Laredo and Mexico to be part of all this NAFTA stuff you read so much about. I mean, a year ago this line was an old goat trail to nowhere.
I drove out as far as the San Bernard River today. They have installed many of the pre-stressed concrete bridge deck sections already. Still not ready for track. The rail still ends in the middle of Kendleton but the ribbon rail train is parked about a quarter mile away ready to unload. I watched them unload 30 foot sections of rail to be used for grade crossings.
One thing I've noticed for the first time is the new "modular" construction of the San Bernard River bridge. The original bridge reminds me of an old movie with the men dodging mosquitos, aligators, and malaria to finish a bridge.
Hmmm. Interesting thought. It might have been mentioned earlier- When was that line originally built? Boxcab E50
Construction began on The New York, Texas & Mexican Railway (a.k.a the "Macaroni Line") from Rosenberg to Victoria in 1881. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/NN/eqn2.html
At that date, they certainly could have been fighting some lousy working conditions. Such as malaria, mosquitoes, etc. Boxcab E50
I thoroughly enjoyd reading your link to the origins of the "Macaroni Line". One wonders if the new owners plans to re-initiate passenger service again to Mexico. Obviously, there's plenty of busses making the trip.
Probably the only Varnish to grace these new rails will be KCS business cars. Would be fun to score a ride on them some time. I can always dream about it anyway. The KCS has been real good to us at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, so you never know.
I followed the line out from Rosenberg last Wednesday, June 4. I'll post some images here. West end of Kendleton. Note the stacks of concrete ties.
The work train was just west of the intermodal facility under construction east of Kendleton. There were a lot of loaded FURX aggregate gondolas sitting on the spur track there (possibly road base for the intermodal facility). Here are the work train locomotives: Lead unit on the east end (SD40-2 6618) Lead unit on the west end of the train (SD60 7100):
Hmmmm. Houses backed up against the r-o-w. I wonder how soon until the complaints start? Interesting set of photos! Thanks for these views! Boxcab E50