Keeping Crossings Safe

[Hytec]

CSX is rebuilding the golf course crossing just up from my house. The rail crew had already cut out and replaced both rails and all the ties by the time I got there, but I got some shots of the paving contractor at work. Next week I hope to get some shots of the rail crew welding the four new rail joints. The joints are bolted for the time being, which has also required a slow-order of about 20 MPH. The golfers are complaining about the delay, but I think they'll get over it. :rolleyes: :D

Pouring hot asphalt onto the shaped and pre-tarred ballast. I was told that the asphalt temperature was about 400 degrees F when the truck left the plant. :eek: Note the cast rubber blocks on either side of the rail to keep the asphalt from touching and corroding the steel.

http://www.railimages.com/album/Hank%20Coolidge/Adding_Asphalt.jpg

Spreading and leveling the loose asphalt. Note that the crew is not stepping on the hot asphalt, but is using very long-handled spreaders, rakes, and shovels. The man in the orange hardhat is the CSX Section Supervisor, with the golf course head groundskeeper beside him.

http://www.railimages.com/album/Hank%20Coolidge/Asphalt_Spreading.jpg

Tamping the asphalt with a portable(?) tamper. Note that the operator is doing his best NOT to step on the hot stuff! That little gasoline-powered vibrating tamper was very effective ... it reduced the thickness of the asphalt by at least half. The crew had to make two more pours to bring the surface to the rail height.

http://www.railimages.com/album/Hank%20Coolidge/Asphalt_Tamping.jpg

[ 23. October 2002, 14:15: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]

[Johnny Trains]

Those are some "HOT" shots!!!!!!!!

Nice stuff for an old sidewalk superintent like myself to see!

Thanks Hank!

[Peirce]

Good work, Hank. This scene would make a good detail on any scale model railroad.

[Hytec]

Here is the golf course crossing after completion. For anyone who might want to add something like this to their layout, the crossing is only about 8 feet across, with steep approaches on either side. The carts really struggle to get over the crossing, especially if the guys in the cart are slightly(! :eek: ) overweight!

http://www.railimages.com/album/Hank%20Coolidge/Asphalt_Complete.jpg

[Colonel]

Great photos Hank, on higly used crossing rubber matting is installed across the whole crossing this enables the crossing to be pulled up for track maintenance then reinstalled.

One thing i do find strange is the fact the track workers are not wearing high visibility vests. Here where I work it is mandatory to wear vests even if the track is closed.

[signalguy]

Originally posted by Colonel:

One thing i do find strange is the fact the track workers are not wearing high visibility vests. Here where I work it is mandatory to wear vests even if the track is closed.Colonel, are your people wearing hard hats now? And how about those shorts? I could not believe that when I was there.

[Colonel]

Gil.

Our track workers only wear hard hats if there is work being carried out above. The latest clothing issues are only long trousers and long sleeved shirts.

[Hytec]

Originally posted by Colonel:
One thing i do find strange is the fact the track workers are not wearing high visibility vests. Here where I work it is mandatory to wear vests even if the track is closed.Paul, apparently CSX requires trackworkers to wear only orange hard hats, at least on this section (New Orleans & Mobile). The men working the asphalt are paving subcontractors, who, I assume follow their company's rules. The man standing next to the CSX supervisor is a golf course employee, who obviously conforms to his own rules. :rolleyes: :D

As an aside, when the CSX tie/ballast replacement crew of 50+/- men came through a few years ago, they all had the orange hats, but none had vests. I was told that the crew had been assembled of employees from all over the CSX system. So I assume this is a system-wide safety policy. :confused: smile.gif

[ 27. October 2002, 12:54: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]