After no action at all over the holidays, work was supposed to resume with a "double crew" on the second of January. Heavy snow held that action back, but they are now working on cleaning out the debris, starting from the east end. The cave-in that continued to fall has been stopped. It appears what was first thought to be a volcanic chimney as the source of the cave-in turns out to be an old gold mining shaft that went all the way up to the surface. Aparently, when the tunnel was being constructed back in the late 1880s, a vein of gold was discovered. The railroad mined the gold to help pay for the construction of the tunnel(s). Another problem that has arisen is water removal from the tunnel. The floor of the tunnel has a down-grade from east to west. Snow melt is running into the bore and water is building up at the cave-in. The contractor was pumping the water out and wouldn't you know it .... now the enviromentalists are trying to stop that action. These idiots ought to be tared and feathered .. and run out of town on a pole! The cave-in at the old shaft extended about 40 feet in each direction from the shaft, dropping rocks so large that they had to be blasted so that they could be removed by a 660 loader. We still do not know what lies within, past the first cave-in, but work is progressing slowly and there's no concrete estimate if, or when the line will be ready for service at this time. Work is only being done from the east end because there is a problem with access from the west end. Equipment could be brought in by rail, but there's no place to unload it. Hope that answers your questions.
Proving once again a level of ignorance beyond belief. Were it not for the rock fall, that melt run off, which is a normal seasonal condition of nature, would simply be flowing out the other end of the tunnel on it's own. Fools and followers. Yes. Answers my questions. Sounds like repairs, although far slower than even I had predicted, are making progress. Please post any further news! Boxcab E50
Just had a message that the CORP is now expecting the tunnel will be reopened during "early june." As "early June" is but days away, I wonder if this is true? Bill- Any news coming your way? Boxcab E50
I have heard the same thing in the Altamont Press forum, which was posted by a CORP employee. Supposed to be "first of June" but we have been told by the contractor that is working on the tunnel that they are behind schedule and now estimate sometime in July I don't know who to believe any more.
Was up at the tunnel today and spoke with the foreman of the crew working there .. he had bad news; this week, 5-24 thru 5-28, they were only able to advance 8 feet! There continues to be cave-ins behind them as they work (which tells me they really don't know what the heck they are doing!). They are now estimating the completion of work sometime in August!
I agree. They don't seem to know what they're doing. If they cannot stabilize what has been cleared, something is lacking.... Perhaps they should alter their estimate for completion, to simply say "some time....." This sounds like lifetime employment! Boxcab E50
Any news on how the new contractor is progressing? Will they meet the revised August date for re-opening? Boxcab E50
CORP has been "relieved of duty" for the tunnel repair. Rail America is now working on it. Still having numerous cave-ins, crushing supports and equipment. Reportedly, the ceiling of the tunnel is about 90 feet above the rails in some place(s). Estimated time to get the job done is now sometime in December. However, if the snow starts falling, we do not expect an opening before next spring .. if then!
CORP has been "relieved of duty" for the tunnel repair. Rail America is now working on it. Still having numerous cave-ins, crushing supports and equipment. Reportedly, the ceiling of the tunnel is about 90 feet above the rails in some place(s). R.I. crew has set a goal of progressing 8 feet per day now. Estimated time to get the job done is now sometime in December. However, if the snow starts falling, we do not expect an opening before next spring .. if then!
This has turned into a monster! Starting to seem as though it would be easiest to bore a new tunnel. Boxcab E50
Dosen't look like they will have to .. in the long run. It'll probably end up being the deepest cut-bank in the world!
So they might end up at least partially daylighting it? This will be a very, very expensive repair job! Boxcab E50
They ave over 10 million in it already I am told! Guess they can't afford to walk away from it now. LOL But I doubt that it will come to daylighting it. As you said .. too expensive.
I would seem so, due to the fact those who are working on it do not appear to know what they are doing!
That's definitely the impression I've had set into my mind. In fact, I began wondering if there are still any RR oriented tunnel experts left? Boxcab E50
I have a contractor that lives next door .. he told me his company could have had it cleared up in 2 months by using a "mucker". As far as I know, RailAmerica and C.O.R.P. have been using backhoes and skiploaders ... no mucker at work there.
Well, they must not mind losing time, and money. What you say they're using, isn't designed for confined spaces. I'd also be willing to bet that the tools they're employing, may be causing some of the troubles. Actually making the job harder, and longer. I can't picture how a mucker would fail to speed things up. Significantly faster. Oh well. Boxcab E50
