Spring construction update #2

Since my last post I finalized bridge placement and completed another segment of trestle, a rather short one so it was a relatively quick project.

After a trip to Home Depot for more bricks, I realigned and reconstructed my bridge piers so they were sturdier. They aren't pretty but they'll do the job and support the bridge, which is a heavy one as it's made of steel. I checked and double-checked the alignment of the bridge with the track in place to ensure the piers were placed exactly where I wanted them, then set the bridge aside but kept the track in place at it's final elevation. The stakes are marking where the trestle bents will go.

Measuring down from the track, I cut bents to the correct height and finished them by attaching the mudsill at the bottom. I made a double bent for each end of the trestle and then let everything sit overnight to dry.

The next morning I placed each bent in position, with the top of each one exactly 3/4 inch below track level.

I then glued the stringers on top of the bents and weighted them down to keep everything from moving.

After attaching the braces on the sides and clamping them in place, I let everything sit to dry out overnight.

Today all the weights and clamps could come off, and I put the track back in place. It's ready to go, aside from the sudden drop at the far side of the bridge. The next trestle will be a challenging one due to its length and curve.

This morning while on a bike ride on the Fish Lake Trail I saw an unusual sight—a westbound unit oil train heading up the Marshall grade on what is normally the eastbound track. I know both the eastbound and westbound tracks are signaled in both directions so each can support bidirectional traffic, but this was my first time seeing that in action. It was moving 15 mph at most, just slightly faster than we were on our bikes. Only two trains passed us during our two-hour bike ride (one each direction), less than the four to seven trains we would typically see.

Meanwhile, on the westbound track I would occasionally glimpse a maintenance car like this ballast tamper, explaining why the westbound track was closed today.