Western Railroad Discussion > UP Brazos River Bridge-30 Days Later

In the past month since the last update work on the UP’s Brazos River bridge in Richmond, TX has slowed to a comfortable weekday pace compared to the continuous 24 hour frenzy of getting the bridge reopened in the weeks prior.  While the heavy equipment was being removed workers continued to reshape the banks with rip-rap, add cross braces to the new piers to provide stiffening, break down the modular barges for removal and various other miscellaneous chores.  Traffic has returned to normal with trains passing through restricted work limits unimpeded as the following images illustrate.

1.  Running ahead of the days Amtrak movement UP ES44AC 7887 leads a westbound Z train with a head end block of EMP stacks over the Brazos River at 7:30pm on August 1, 2016.  Now that the bridge has reopened the jobsite is empty of workers taking a break from the relentless non-stop workdays of just a few days ago.  Erosion of the east bank is clearly evident in the evening light.

2.  Five minutes later right on the above Z’s yellow blocks Amtrak #1-the Sunset Ltd-crosses the river as it heads for a midnight arrival in San Antonio on the UP’s Glidden Sub. The low evening sun highlights the new central pier and the debris pile of the original below it.  The four yellow cylindrical extensions on the corners of the new cross spans are part of the jacking arrangement used to simultaneously lift the two bridge trusses so the new lateral beams could be slid underneath the bridge decks.  These will be removed later.

3.  Seen from the south side of the bridge looking upstream shows the arrangement of modular barges which are gathered to be disassembled and removed from the river.  This vantage point gives a good view of the east pier-to the right-which was first replaced and the new central pier in the river.  Notice the four yellow jacking cylinders have been removed.   Photographed during the workmen’s lunch break the site is empty as everyone has retreated to the shade and air conditioning of their pickup trucks to get out of the “feels like” 108 degree temperature. 
  
Tom Kline
Houston, TX

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Really nice work Tom. Those are some odd piers - looks like there might be a significant change in store down the line.

4.  Standing on the west bank under the main truss of the Brazos River bridge affords this view of the new central pier and the east bank pier in the background which was first replaced.  Between the uprights a small excavator moves a tubular cross brace which is being added to the east pier for additional stability.  In the foreground the remains of the original masonry center pier lies as rubble at the base of the new supports.   

5.  As work continues below the bridge a westbound BNSF grain empty from the Port of Houston rolls westward across the Brazos River bridge on trackage rights over the UP to nearby Rosenberg where it will rejoin home rails.  Below the third trailing unit a welder in a man lift attaches gussets to a cross brace while beneath the second unit a American-Terex excavator holds a cross brace in position while being welded.  Workers and the large crane are in the process of disassembling the modular Flexifloat barges and stacking them on the bank for removal by flatbed trucks.

6. Workers watch as a section of Flexifloat barge breaks free of the river’s surface suction with a froth as it is removed during disassembly of the brown-water navy of barges used in the bridge repair.  The barge sections interlock with each other by friction using the protruding yellow pins and recessed grooves on the barge walls with locking wedges securing the connection.

Tom Kline
Houston, TX
 

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Yeah, they did brilliant work to get this back into service this fast, but 10 years from now people who don't know the story are going to look at it and wonder if the civil engineer was on crack.

King_Coal Wrote:
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> Really nice work Tom. Those are some odd piers -
> looks like there might be a significant change in
> store down the line.

Man if that isn't the truth.  Looks like a 9 year old built it with leftovers from his erector set--but it works.

Pump

Nomad Wrote:
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> Yeah, they did brilliant work to get this back
> into service this fast, but 10 years from now
> people who don't know the story are going to look
> at it and wonder if the civil engineer was on
> crack.

But how well will it hold up in another HIGH water flood?  I've got to think that UP wants a new bridge there...

Nice pics!!

Thabks for sharing this progress.  Now all it needs is a new coat of paint.  

Thank you Tom for your continued excellent coverage.
John

Man, UP has droppped some big dollars on that thing and apparently still doing it too,

Tom - You keep hitting them out of the park. Thanks.

Paul Brennecke
Golden, CO